Izegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On November 22, 2025, the Izegem fire department responded to 2 house fires in Kachtem and Emelgem. Fire officer Patrick Vanlauwe led crews, preventing major damage despite considerable losses.
As VRT News reported, the Izegem fire department, in the province of West Flanders, Belgium, responded to 2 house fires in Kachtem and Emelgem within 1 hour on Saturday morning, Nov 22, 2025. The 1st call came in at 11:20 a.m. It was for a fire on Pieter Boncquetstraat in Kachtem. Residents saw flames and smoke near their pellet stove and alerted the fire service immediately. Firefighters arrived quickly and worked to control the fire.
What caused 2 House fires in Izegem on November 22, 2025?
After extinguishing the fire, the team carried out a full inspection of the chimney and nearby areas. They checked for any embers or hidden heat that could reignite. Once the house was confirmed safe, the firefighters returned to their station.
At 12:10 p.m., they received a 2nd report of a fire. This time, the blaze broke out in the bathroom of a house.
“We had just returned to the fire station when we were called to Guido Gezellestraat in Emelgem,”
says fire officer Patrick Vanlauwe.
An old heating unit had caused several nearby items to overheat. Among the affected materials, the insulation in the room caught fire. Firefighters rushed to the scene and quickly brought the flames under control.
Some items had to be removed during the extinguishing work, which resulted in considerable damage. The fire also caused an electrical problem, making the house temporarily uninhabitable. Residents were forced to leave while experts assessed the safety of the home.
In recent years, Izegem saw several house fires, many from heating appliances or electrical issues. On February 15, 2022, a fire broke out on Stationsstraat due to an antiquated electric heater. It caused serious damage, but no one was harmed.
On March 10, 2023, a fire sparked from a pellet stove in Kachtem. The residents needed to be evacuated while firefighters suppressed the fire. An additional fire occurred in March 2024 on Leiestraat due to faulty wiring. This fire led to the same evacuation and serious repairs.
