Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Delhaize supermarket on Museumstraat in Antwerp experienced a fire on Friday, January 25, 2025. No individuals were hurt during the incident. An automatic extinguishing mechanism operating within the store site quickly contained the fire and kept the premises damage at a minimum.
On Friday, January 25, 2025, a fire erupted inside the Delhaize supermarket situated on Museumstraat in Antwerp. No individuals suffered any injuries during the incident. The automatic sprinkler system operated successfully to contain the fire and kept damage to the building to a minimum. The investigation by local authorities started after the event, which led to public safety concerns.
The fire ignited at the Delhaize store when someone entered the building and burned the liquid fuel poured across the floor.
The emergency services found paper and accelerants.
“The access gate and the entrance were damaged, but the fire brigade quickly got the fire under control,”
Says Kim Bastiaens of the Antwerp police.
A man who lives above the Delhaize is not reassured.
“A few years ago, a cleaning lady in the store here got acid in her face. (…) And now, for the second time, a fire. We do live above it. That’s 144 apartments.”
Multiple people witnessed flames climbing towards the roof before automatic sprinklers started and stopped the fire. The store’s operations halted after the fire, resulting in smoke and water damage throughout the facility and the rest of the day.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Antwerp confirmed that their investigation aims to determine the identity of the suspect behind this incident.
What is the background of recent fires in Antwerp?
Delhaize became the latest target iof arson attacks against supermarkets within Antwerp city. Law enforcement arrested an individual in December 2024 after he set fire at another Delhaize store, harming local retail safety conditions. An increase of 15% in arson attacks during the past year in urban areas has led local authorities to raise security measures around public spaces and commercial locations, which raised concerns about safety in local retail environments.
