Police in Herisau intervened after a man was found burning furniture in a residential garden, according to a report published by accidentreports.ch.
The incident took place on the evening of 20 April 2026 when a patrol from the Appenzell Ausserrhoden Cantonal Police noticed a column of black smoke shortly after 8pm. Officers then traced the source to a fire in the garden behind a property, reportedly close to the building's façade.
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Authorities said a 36-year-old Swiss man had been using a piece of furniture as fuel. According to the report, the item had apparently not been disposed of through legal waste channels.
Police ordered the fire to be extinguished immediately. The man now faces charges linked to violations of environmental protection regulations.
The case highlights ongoing enforcement around improper waste disposal and open-air burning, particularly in residential areas where smoke, emissions and fire risks can pose dangers to nearby properties and neighbours.
Source: www.unfallmeldungen.ch
