Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A 4-month-old baby in Mechelen helped prevent a fire at Restaurant Julia by waking her grandparents early. Smoke came from a new dryer. Only minor damage was reported.
As VRT News reported, on Sunday morning, Aug 3, 2025, in Mechelen, there was smoke in the workshop of Restaurant Julia. The owners, Wendy De Cuyper and Erik, were alerted when their 4-month-old granddaughter woke up early for her feeding. Erik noticed a burning smell and went to investigate. He found smoke coming from a recently bought dryer in the workshop. No injuries were reported, and damage was avoided.
What helped stop a fire at the restaurant Julia in Mechelen?
They called the fire department right away. Firefighters took the dryer outside and opened it. Flames came out of the machine. The fire did not spread. Only the dryer, washing machine, and some clothes were damaged. The family said the girl may have saved their lives.
According to officials, the granddaughter woke up the family just in time. Because of her, a big fire was stopped. The family was scared but also very thankful. They said it could have been much worse.
Last year, a young boy in Limburg woke up his parents after smelling smoke from the kitchen. A faulty dishwasher had started to overheat during the night. The smoke detectors had not gone off yet.
The parents quickly called the fire department, which arrived in time to stop the fire from spreading. Only the dishwasher and part of the kitchen wall were damaged. The family later said their son’s quick actions saved their home.
