Smoke plume above Brussels due to serious fire in car company: one person taken to hospital

DS Video | Industrial fire in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw: warehouse is on fire. — © De Standaard

Anyone who works in and around Brussels has undoubtedly noticed the enormous plume of black smoke above the capital. The fire that broke out in a warehouse of a car company in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is now under control: one person had to go to hospital.

The fire at the car company in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, where a large industrial warehouse of 5,000 square meters was on fire, has been under control since 5:35 p.m. Mayor Jan Desmeth (N-VA) and fire brigade spokesperson Wouter Jeanfils report this. One person inhaled too much smoke and was taken to hospital.

The fire started around 4:15 p.m. in the car company, which is engaged in the dismantling of vehicles. The plume of smoke was visible as far as the center of Brussels on Thursday afternoon. According to the mayor, the fire started during grinding work, but the fire brigade could not yet confirm this. The company owner tried to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful.

The flames subsequently spread to an adjacent building. There was an explosion there, which caused the nearby building to collapse. “Both the building where the fire started and the second building have been completely destroyed,” said spokesperson Jeanfils. Other buildings have been spared from damage.

Local residents in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Ruisbroek, Anderlecht, Vorst and Drogenbos have received a text message asking them to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation systems. The fire brigade will continue to extinguish the fire for “several” hours.