Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Brussels firefighters were called out 24 times for small outdoor fires and once for a burning vehicle last night, Jan 1, 2026. Spokesperson Walter Derieuw reported no injuries or incidents involving emergency staff.
As VRT News reported, Brussels firefighters were called out 25 times last night, Jan 1, 2026, to handle fires across the city. The teams acted quickly and controlled each situation. Fire department spokesperson Walter Derieuw said no emergency personnel, police officers, or MIVB staff were hit by fireworks during the operations. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported in any of the fires.
What happened to Brussels firefighters and emergency crews on New Year’s?
Officials mentioned that last night, Jan 1, 2025, was much calmer than New Year’s Eve. On that night, firefighters faced many open-air fires and car fires, most caused by fireworks. Crews worked through the night to contain the flames and prevent damage from spreading.
On January 1, 2025, over 60 cars were damaged as a result of a fire set in Brussels; while attempting to extinguish the flames surrounding the vehicles, emergency personnel were attacked with bricks and firework devices.
Riots broke out in various local areas in Belgium. During those riots, vehicles, rubbish bins and Christmas Trees were all burned to the ground. Emergency responders, including firefighters and police, were targeted during these incidents, resulting in numerous arrests in both Brussels (where over 60 individuals were arrested) and Antwerp (49 arrested).
On January 1, 2024, Brussels authorities investigated and recorded over 140 individuals arrested. Emergency responders received hundreds of calls about car fires while emergency responders were being disrupted by fireworks.
In 2023, Brussels experienced car and container fires, as well as 160 individuals being arrested in relation to these fires and numerous emergency personnel responding to these situations sustained injuries from items thrown at them by rioters. Similar incidents occurred in Antwerp.
