Germany: 25 treated after fire at refugee shelter

Rescue cars stand near a refugee accommodation on the grounds of the convention center where a fire has broken in the western city of Duesseldorf, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Joerg Schmitter, spokesman of the local fire department told The Associated Press that the fire started shortly after noon on Tuesday. He said that all people who had been in the hall appeared to have made it out. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire that has broken at a refugee accommodation on the grounds of the convention center in the western city of Duesseldorf, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. Joerg Schmitter, spokesman of the local firedepartment told The Associated Press that the fire started shortly after noon on Tuesday. He said that all people who had been in the hall appeared to have made it out. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP) (The Associated Press)

Two people were detained Tuesday after a large fire at refugee accommodation in the western German city of Duesseldorf, police said.

City police spokeswoman Anja Kynast said the two men, both residents at the shelter, were taken in for questioning but not formally arrested.

Duesseldorf's fire department said about 70 firefighters rushed to the grounds of the city's convention center after being alerted to the fire shortly after midday.

It said 24 of the 282 refugees living at the site were treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter was treated for exhaustion.

Kynast said authorities had been called to a previous fire at the shelter last month, but that the cause hadn't been determined.

Tuesday's fire created a large column of smoke over Duesseldorf that could be seen for dozens of kilometers (miles).

Traffic at the city's nearby airport wasn't affected.