Firefighters Battle Warehouse Blaze in Schaarbeek for Hours; Residents Relocated
Firefighters in Brussels spent more than eight hours battling a large warehouse fire in the Brabantwijk neighborhood of Schaarbeek on Thursday night, forcing the evacuation of local residents and triggering an emergency alert across the capital region. No injuries were reported.
The fire broke out in the evening in a three-story warehouse located between Brabantstraat and Groenstraat, according to VRT NWS. The Brussels Fire Department responded with four fire engines and two ladder trucks, fighting the blaze from both streets.
A Difficult Blaze
The warehouse contained mattresses and fabrics, creating what fire department spokesperson Walter Derieuw described as “a significant heat load.” The resulting fire produced a massive smoke plume visible across much of Brussels, as RTBF reported.
“It concerns a warehouse of 3 floors, located between the Brabantstraat and the Groenstraat,” Derieuw said. “The call came in around 21:20. Our people fought the fire from both streets.”
The fire was brought under control in the early hours of Friday morning, with extinguishing operations continuing for several more hours. A fire truck remained on site afterward to monitor for potential re-ignition. The warehouse was completely destroyed.
“A fire engine is still on site to nip any potential re-ignition in the bud,” Derieuw told RTL Info. “The warehouse is completely lost. The origin of the fire remains to be determined.”
Emergency Response and Evacuations
The local police zone Brussels North established a security perimeter around the intervention area. As a precaution, authorities evacuated nearby residents, and the municipality activated a communal emergency plan to provide temporary accommodation for those who could not return home overnight, as La Libre reported.
Around midnight, authorities sent a BE-Alert emergency message to residents of several Brussels municipalities, advising them to keep doors and windows closed and to turn off ventilation systems due to the heavy smoke. The alert was issued through Safe.brussels, the Brussels-Capital Region’s agency for prevention and security, according to La Libre.
Acting Mayor Martin de Brabant (MR) activated the communal emergency plan to coordinate relief efforts and ensure affected residents had a place to stay for the night.
The fire did not spread to neighboring residential buildings. By Friday morning, all evacuated residents had been able to return to their homes.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. According to neighbors, the warehouse belonged to a textile shop, as BruxellesToday noted.
A Challenging Urban Firefight
The incident highlights the challenges of fighting fires in densely populated urban areas. The Brabantwijk neighborhood, located near Brussels North station, is known for its diverse population and mixed residential-commercial character. The narrow streets and closely packed buildings in this part of Schaarbeek complicated firefighting operations, requiring crews to attack the blaze from two different streets simultaneously.
The presence of mattresses and fabrics in the warehouse created an intense, long-burning fire that produced hazardous smoke. The BE-Alert system, which was activated around midnight, played a crucial role in warning residents across multiple Brussels municipalities to keep their windows and doors closed and shut off ventilation systems to avoid smoke inhalation.
The fire department’s response involved a coordinated effort that included multiple rotations of crews. Around midnight, the first team was relieved by a fresh crew, allowing firefighters to maintain continuous pressure on the blaze. The fire was brought under control in the early hours of Friday, and the final extinguishing operations lasted for several more hours.
Communal Response and Recovery
The activation of the communal emergency plan by Acting Mayor Martin de Brabant ensured that residents who could not return to their homes overnight received proper accommodation through the municipality. This coordinated response reflects the preparedness of Brussels’ emergency infrastructure for urban incidents of this scale.
Despite the severity of the blaze and the prolonged firefighting effort, the absence of injuries and the successful containment of the fire to the warehouse itself represent a positive outcome for emergency services. The fire did not spread to neighboring residential buildings, and all evacuated residents were able to return home by Friday morning.
What to Watch For
As authorities investigate the origin of the fire, the Brussels Fire Department continues to monitor the site for any potential re-ignition. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety in commercial buildings storing combustible materials in urban settings. It also underscores the value of early warning systems like BE-Alert and the effectiveness of communal emergency planning in protecting residents during major incidents.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to continue in the coming days. For now, the community of Schaarbeek can take some comfort in the fact that a potentially devastating urban fire was contained without loss of life, and that the neighborhood’s residents have safely returned to their homes.