House Left Uninhabitable After Fire in Grimbergen: Roof Burned Along Full Length
A house in Strombeek-Bever, a sub-municipality of Grimbergen in Flemish Brabant, has been declared uninhabitable after a fire tore through the property in the early hours of Sunday morning. The blaze, which started on the terrace before spreading to the residence, consumed the roof along its full length before firefighters could bring it under control. No injuries were reported.
The Incident
Emergency services received the call at approximately 1:41 AM for a fire at a residence on Leestbeekstraat 14. When firefighters arrived, the blaze had already taken hold across the entire structure. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the fire had spread from the terrace to engulf the full length of the roof, with a fully developed fire also burning on the ground floor.
“Once on site, there was a fire on the terrace outside, which had spread to the house,” said Wouter Jeanfils, fire officer and spokesperson for Brandweerzone Vlaams-Brabant West. “There was fire along the full length of the roof. There was also a fully developed fire on the ground floor.”
Firefighting Response
Given the scale of the blaze, firefighters launched a coordinated attack from multiple angles. “Our crews extinguished the fire using both an interior and exterior attack,” Jeanfils explained. Units from the fire stations of Vilvoorde, Asse, and Londerzeel were deployed, with additional support from the Brussels fire brigade.
Ring TV reported that the fire was likely caused by a barbecue that had not been fully extinguished, though Het Laatste Nieuws noted that the precise cause had not yet been confirmed at the time of publication.
No Casualties, Property Declared Uninhabitable
The residents managed to escape the property safely before firefighters arrived. “There are no victims,” Jeanfils confirmed. “The owners have been able to arrange their own accommodation for the coming period.”
The house sustained extensive damage and has been officially declared uninhabitable. The owners will need to make alternative living arrangements while the property undergoes assessment and potential repairs.
Heightened Fire Risk Context
The fire comes amid a period of exceptional heat and drought across Belgium. Just two days before this incident, Grimbergen’s mayor Bart Laeremans issued a public warning urging residents to stop lighting fires in nature areas. According to VRT NWS, the mayor noted that several reports had already been received of people burning waste or having barbecues in forest areas, and reminded residents that open fires are prohibited under local police regulations, with violations potentially resulting in GAS fines.
“The risk of natural and vegetation fires is high,” police chief Jurgen Braeckmans said in the VRT NWS report. “Plants and grasses are dried out and can catch fire quickly, after which a fire can spread rapidly.”
What to Watch For
Authorities are expected to continue investigating the exact cause of the fire. As Belgium continues to experience dry conditions, fire safety officials are urging residents to exercise extra caution with any open flames, particularly in outdoor settings. The broader context of the ongoing heatwave has elevated fire risk throughout the country, with significant wildfires also reported in the Hoge Venen region during the same period.