Firefighters in canton Sankt Gallen had to demolish three nearby houses to get to a blaze which threatened an entire neighbourhood.
The fire started in a shed in the village of Bichwil on Saturday afternoon.
The fire brigade had to being in an excavator to smash through the buildings to get to the blaze.
Residents were given time to leave their homes – the action had already been given the green light by the insurance companies.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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