Two Dead, Eight Injured in Schaarbeek Fire; Probe Launched
A devastating fire tore through a residential building on the Haachtsesteenweg in Schaarbeek, Brussels, early Sunday morning, killing two people and injuring eight others. The municipality activated its emergency plan, and the Brussels prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation on charges of involuntary manslaughter and slum housing.
Context
The fire broke out around 2:30 AM on 26 July at 118-120 Haachtsesteenweg, a multi-dwelling building with a shared entrance and multiple stairwells. According to VRT NWS, the flames originated in the common areas of the farthest stairwell. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 3:10 AM.
The building housed approximately 50 registered residents. About 20 people were evacuated, with 24 finding temporary shelter at the Schaarbeek town hall, where the Red Cross set up a reception center.
Key Developments
Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels Fire Department, described the scene upon arrival. “When our first teams arrived, there was already significant smoke development, also in the street. We immediately started firefighting and a search and rescue mission,” he told VRT NWS.
On the third floor, firefighters found four unconscious people in an apartment. Doors and windows had been left open due to the heat, allowing smoke to pour inside. Victims were evacuated via stairs to the second floor and brought down by aerial ladder.
Two people died at the scene: a mother and her adult daughter, according to family testimony. Eight others were taken to hospitals, including two young sisters aged 11 and 9 who remain in critical condition. “The human toll is heavy: two people died, two others are in critical condition,” Derieuw said.
The fire occurred just hours after the Brussels government and unions reached an agreement to suspend a five-day firefighters’ strike, as reported by Bruzz. It remains unclear how many firefighters had returned to duty at the time of the incident, though no response delays have been reported.
Investigation and Implications
On Monday, the Brussels prosecutor’s office announced it had opened an investigation for involuntary manslaughter (onopzettelijke doding) and slum housing (huisjesmelkerij), with an examining magistrate appointed. Bruzz reported that prosecutors declined further comment, citing respect for the ongoing investigation.
The slum housing charge is significant. It suggests authorities suspect substandard living conditions, inadequate fire safety measures, or illegal occupancy arrangements may have contributed to the death toll. A neighbor noted the building had only one entrance with no emergency exit at the rear, potentially trapping residents when the fire broke out in the stairwell.
A possible cause involving an electric scooter battery has been mentioned but remains unconfirmed. Previous fires in Schaarbeek have been linked to e-scooter batteries, including incidents in February 2025 and April 2026. A fire expert and forensic laboratory will investigate the scene.
The tragedy brings the total number of accidental fire deaths in Brussels in 2026 to 13, according to Bruzz’s tally, highlighting ongoing fire safety concerns across the Belgian capital.
What’s Next
The investigation remains in its early stages. Key questions persist: What exactly caused the fire? Did housing code violations contribute to the loss of life? And how will the surviving children, including two young sisters fighting for their lives in hospital, be cared for?
Mayor Martin de Brabant, who activated the emergency plan, said: “Our first thoughts go out to the deceased victims, their loved ones, and all residents affected by this tragic fire.” The case has reignited debate about housing safety standards in Brussels’ older residential buildings and the adequacy of fire prevention measures in multi-dwelling complexes.