Brussels fire forces evacuation of about 60 flats overnight
Firefighters evacuated residents of a six-storey building on Chaussee d'Anvers in Brussels after a rubbish fire sent smoke through the stairwell.
Also in:Nederlands
Firefighters evacuated around 60 flats in a building on the Chaussee d'Anvers in Brussels overnight between Saturday and Sunday after a fire broke out at the foot of an external staircase, Brussels fire services told Belgian news agency Belga.
Crews were called out in the early hours of Sunday, after rubbish caught fire at the bottom of an external stairwell, according to La Libre and 7sur7. Smoke entered the building through the stairwell doors, prompting many residents to leave their flats as a precaution rather than wait to find out how serious the fire was.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control fairly quickly using a high-pressure hose, fire services said. At the same time, crews carried out a full evacuation of the building, which has 60 flats spread across 6 floors, from the first floor to the sixth, so that residents would not be exposed to smoke while the cause of the fire was still being established.
Nearly all of the 60 flats were then checked individually for carbon monoxide, a precaution taken because smoke had spread into the stairwell that residents use to reach the street. Low concentrations were found in 2 of the flats, but these levels dropped almost immediately once windows were opened, fire services said. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters during the operation.
The exact cause of the fire had not yet been determined, fire services said, and no further details on the investigation had been released as of Sunday.
What we know
- 2+ outlets · 7sur7, La Libre A fire broke out at the foot of an external staircase of a building on Chaussee d'Anvers in Brussels in the early hours of Sunday.
- 2+ outlets · 7sur7, La Libre Firefighters evacuated around 60 flats across the building's 6 floors as a precaution after smoke entered through the stairwell.
- 2+ outlets · 7sur7, La Libre Low carbon monoxide levels were found in 2 flats but dropped once windows were opened; no injuries were reported.
- 2+ outlets · 7sur7, La Libre The fire was brought under control with a high-pressure hose; its exact cause has not been determined.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
A fire that starts outside a building can still put dozens of households at risk once smoke spreads indoors, which is why Brussels firefighters evacuated an entire six-storey block and tested nearly every one of its 60 flats for carbon monoxide, even though the fire itself stayed outside on the stairwell. Checking each flat individually, rather than assuming the building was safe once the flames were out, reflects how seriously fire services treat smoke inhalation risk in buildings of this size.
The swift knockdown of the blaze with a single high-pressure hose line suggests firefighters judged the fire itself to be contained quickly, even as the wider precautionary check of the building took longer to complete.
Sources
Reported by 4 reports from 4 independent outlets in 1 countries.
- 7sur7: Une soixantaine d’appartements évacués à cause d’un début d’incendie à Bruxelles
- La Libre: Bruxelles: une soixantaine d'appartements évacués à cause d'un début d'incendie
- The Brussels Times: Workers' Party shakes off links to Friday's Brussels riots
- HLN: Politiechef reageert op vrijlating jonge verdachten na rellen in Brussel: “Wij dweilen met de kraan open... Maar wat als wij niet meer dweilen?”
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people were evacuated in the Brussels fire?
- Firefighters evacuated residents of around 60 flats in the building as a precaution.
- Was anyone injured?
- No injuries were reported; low carbon monoxide levels found in 2 flats dropped once windows were opened.
- What caused the fire?
- Fire services said rubbish caught fire at the foot of an external staircase; the exact cause had not been determined.
This article was written with AI assistance from 4 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.