Fire Forces FIBA Women’s World Cup Teams Out of Berlin Hotel

It was still dark outside when the alarm rang out at 9:06 a.m. local time on Tuesday, startling the women’s basketball delegations that had settled into their rooms the night before. The source? A fire that had ignited in the garbage room of a parking garage right next to the hotel.

FIBA released a statement confirming that the heat and smoke set off the building’s automatic alarm system, forcing the teams to follow standard safety protocols. Within minutes, players, coaches and staff were ushered out of the lobby and gathered on the sidewalk, breathing in the crisp Berlin air while fire crews tackled the blaze below.

After a swift inspection that lasted about twenty minutes, officials gave the all‑clear. By 9:27 a.m., everyone was back inside their rooms, the tension easing as the venue’s security confirmed the situation was under control. Police are now looking into exactly how the fire started, though early reports point to a rubbish‑bin flare‑up in the underground level of the adjacent parking facility.

The United States squad escaped the drama entirely because they’re lodged at a different hotel across town. That small logistical detail meant the American stars—Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray—could continue their preparations without interruption.

This wasn’t the first alarm that week. Just two days earlier, an emergency signal sent players scrambling out of the same hotel in the early hours of Sunday. At first, officials blamed steam from a kitchen cleaning operation; later, Australia’s coach Sandy Brondello said a faulty elevator alarm may have been to blame. The sudden wake‑up call robbed many athletes of precious sleep ahead of their games.

With the knockout stage set to begin later on Tuesday, the brief evacuation was a jarring reminder of how quickly external factors can intrude on a tightly‑planned tournament. Still, organizers emphasized that safety remains the top priority, and the competition is expected to proceed as scheduled.