Two houses uninhabitable after a heavy fire in apartment complex in Uccle (Brussels)
The heavy fire raged on the penthouse and the terrace of the apartment complex. – © Brussels Brussels
In the night from Friday to Saturday, a heavy fire raged in an apartment building on the Terhulpensesteenweg in Uccle. The Brussels fire brigade got fire under control after a long intervention. There were no injuries, but two apartments were declared uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is still unknown for the time being.
The fire broke out just after half past one in the morning on the top floor of a seven -storey building. It was a blazing fire that quickly spread to the roof terrace and the accompanying penthouse.
According to Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels fire brigade, the fire was already strongly developed on the arrival of the emergency services. « Our teams immediately focused on a combined attack: both via the outside with ladders and an interior attack to dike the expansion of the fire, » says Derieuw. « The smoke development was fierce. There is also considerable smoke damage in adjacent classrooms. »
Two apartments are uninhabitable. – © Brussels Brussels
The residents of the building were able to bring themselves to safety, even before the arrival of the emergency services. « The evacuation went spontaneously and smoothly, » says Derieuw. « The evacuated residents were temporarily taken care of in the entrance hall of the building. »
Although the fire was limited to the upper part of the building, the underlying floor was also damaged by water infiltration. The utilities, including the water and power supply, were preventively closed.
For the time being uninhabitable
« The fire mainly caused damage in the kitchen and a laundry room of the affected apartment, as well as in a room near the windows, » says Derieuw. « Two apartments have been declared uninhabitable for the time being. The other residents were able to return to their home after the intervention. »
The fire brigade was on site until about half past three to extinguish the last smells and ventilate the building. Nothing is known about the precise cause of the fire. (DBG)
