Farm fire: Michael Bauer finds new hope after the disaster!

Farm fire: Michael Bauer finds new hope after the disaster!

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, there was a devastating fire on the grounds of the well-known “Rosa Kuh” farm dairy in Obermichelbach. The owner, Michael Bauer, discovered that an area of ​​the dairy had almost completely burned down, causing damage of around one million euros. Despite the enormous damage, Bauer was lucky: no one was injured, and his children, his grandfather and the animals remained safe.

The fire department arrived with 130 to 140 people after concerned residents raised the alarm. Thanks to the quick intervention, the flames were prevented from spreading to neighboring buildings. The wind played a crucial role in directing the flames away from the stable. The fire was extinguished after about an hour, but not only part of the dairy was lost, but also a hood of the biogas plant, which was affected due to the intense heat.

Emotional reaction and realignment

For Michael Bauer, the incident was not only materially but also emotionally stressful. He felt an unexpected inner peace in the midst of the terrible situation and saw the fire as a kind of “pause button”. This could represent an opportunity for realignment for him and the family business. In the future, Bauer plans to concentrate on the farm dairy as well as on the direct marketing of his products such as cheese, yoghurt and ice cream.

The new warehouse for the dairy, which is already being planned, is now being built on the ruins of the fire, and the biogas plant, which survived the fire unscathed, will be leased to a neighboring farmer. This represents a further step towards a stable continuation of the business, which is run by Bauer's father and grandfather in the third generation.

Continued production

Bauer emphasizes that production and the vending machines suffered no damage during the entire incident and can continue to operate without restrictions. The fire department's quick response, for which Bauer is very grateful, made a decisive contribution to ensuring that the company's infrastructure could be maintained. The police are currently investigating the cause of the fire, although there are no initial indications of arson.

The fire at the Pink Cow Farm Dairy will be remembered not only for the extensive damage, but also for the impressive community response and the unwavering spirit of Michael Bauer, who, despite adversity, is determined to reorient his operation and focus on the future.

For more information: weekly paper, in Franconia.