Elliikom (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A car fire in Ellikom, Oudsbergen forced 26 apartments to evacuate. Mayor Ilse Wevers said no one was hurt. Cause unknown but not an electric car; inspections continue.
As VRT News reported, early this morning, July 28, 2025, a car caught fire in the underground garage of an apartment building in the centre of Ellikom, a part of Oudsbergen, Belgium. There was thick smoke and flames in the area, and all 26 apartments in the building above the parking garage had to be evacuated. There are 14 social housing units and 12 units of private property.
The emergency crews acted quickly, and all of the residents were assisted in evacuating before anyone was injured. Firefighters managed to stop the fire before it could spread through the rest of the building. They stayed at the building for hours after putting out the flames to check for hidden hot spots and make sure the area was safe.
What caused the car fire that forced 26 Oudsbergen homes to evacuate?
The town of Oudsbergen opened the local community centre to give the evacuated residents a place to stay while the building was checked. According to Mayor Ilse Wevers (CD&V), the fire brigades will examine each apartment for smoke or water damage. Experts will also check the structure to ensure it is safe. Wevers added that once all is inspected and cleared, residents will be permitted to return to their homes.
The cause of the fire is still not known, and investigators are still looking into it. Mayor Ilse Wevers said one thing is certain, it was not an electric car. The burned car and the garage will now be checked closely to find out how the fire began. The people who had to leave their homes are waiting for the green light to go back. They hope they can return soon once experts say the building is safe and all damage has been recorded.
In 2022, Oudsbergen faced another major emergency when a house in Gruitrode caught fire after a lightning strike during a summer storm. The blaze spread quickly through the roof, and several nearby homes were evacuated as a safety measure. Firefighters from surrounding towns joined the effort to stop the flames, and while no one was injured, the house was badly damaged.
