Fire in Schaerbeek Laundromat Forces Evacuation of 30 Residents
A serious fire broke out in a large laundromat in Schaerbeek, Brussels, overnight from Sunday to Monday, forcing the evacuation of approximately 30 residents from the surrounding apartment building. The Brussels Fire Brigade confirmed that no injuries were reported, though the laundromat was completely destroyed and material damage is described as considerable.
Context
The fire erupted at a building on Helmetsesteenweg in the Helmet neighborhood of Schaerbeek, a residential area in the Brussels-Capital Region. The four-story building housed a large laundromat on the ground floor — extending into a rear structure opening onto Nestor Detièrestraat — along with 11 apartments above. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the fire brigade was dispatched at approximately 00:55 on Monday, 13 July.
Key Developments
Upon arrival, firefighters found a fully developed fire already raging in the rear section of the laundromat. Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels Fire Brigade, described the scene to VRT NWS: “It was a fully developed fire in a large laundromat that continues into a rear building that opens onto Nestor Detièrestraat. There are 4 floors with 11 apartments. The residents, about thirty people, were able to leave the building and gathered on the public road.”
Derieuw noted that due to the complex configuration of the building and difficult access to the fire source, resources were immediately scaled up. Firefighters attacked the blaze from multiple access points simultaneously — through the rear parking lot, across flat roofs, and via an apartment with direct access to the laundromat — using three fire hoses at once.
Police zone Brussels-Noord (Schaerbeek/Evere/Sint-Joost-ten-Node) established a safety perimeter around the scene. Tram overhead power lines on Helmetsesteenweg were de-energized as a precaution, though no tram traffic was running at that hour. Gas and electricity supply to the building was also shut off during the operation.
According to BRUZZ, the fire was brought under control by approximately 02:00. Several re-ignitions occurred in the heavily damaged roof, but firefighters successfully prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent buildings. The full intervention was concluded around 05:00.
No Casualties
Remarkably, no injuries or casualties were reported. Derieuw confirmed that there were no victims of smoke or carbon monoxide poisoning. After extensive ventilation, CO measurements, and safety inspections, all residents were allowed to return to their homes — with one exception.
Displaced Residents
The apartment of the laundromat operator, which is directly connected to the laundromat, was declared temporarily uninhabitable. The two residents of that apartment are currently being sheltered by the municipality of Schaerbeek.
Resources Deployed
The fire brigade deployed substantial resources to combat the blaze, including five fire engines, two aerial ladder trucks, two command vehicles, a Medical Urgency Group (MUG) team, multiple ambulances, the Red Cross, a support vehicle, and a decontamination vehicle. Police zone BruNo and grid operator Sibelga also assisted.
Analysis
The successful evacuation of 30 residents without any casualties reflects well on the emergency preparedness of both the building’s occupants and the coordinated multi-agency response. The fire brigade’s rapid scaling of resources — activating both the internal emergency plan and the pre-alarm for the medical intervention and psychosocial plans — demonstrates effective emergency management protocols.
This incident is part of a pattern of fires in Brussels-area residential buildings. Schaerbeek has experienced several notable fires in recent years, including a 2022 apartment fire on Leopold III-laan that claimed one life and forced the evacuation of 40 residents, and a house fire on the same Helmetsesteenweg in February 2024. Just days before this incident, a fire at a recycling company in Haren sent one person to hospital.
What’s Next
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with arson, electrical fault, or accident all possibilities. The long-term fate of the laundromat business and the structural integrity of the building will likely be assessed in the coming days. The Schaerbeek municipality continues to provide shelter for the two displaced residents as arrangements are made for their longer-term accommodation.