Ganshoren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A Brussels firefighter ladder truck struck a private auto while driving in Ganshoren in an accident. The emergency response vehicle came to rest within a nearby hedge, according to the Brussels Fire Department’s afternoon report. All injured participants were taken to seek medical treatment at the hospital after the incident.
A Brussels firefighter ladder truck collided with a private car in Ganshoren on Saturday, sending the emergency vehicle into a nearby hedge. The incident occurred around 11:30 at the intersection of Avenue de l’Exposition Universelle and Drève de Rivieren. According to the Brussels fire brigade, all involved individuals—two car occupants and two firefighters—sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital.
“The emergency vehicle was heading to a fire in Ganshoren,” Derieuw stated.
“The service vehicle was operating with its siren and lights on,” Derieuw added. “The circumstances of the accident are now under routine police investigation,” he concluded.
What is the background of fire engine accidents in Brussels?
Fire engine collisions, though relatively rare, pose significant risks due to the high-speed nature of emergency responses. The Brussels Fire Brigade reports that emergency vehicles experience between fifteen to twenty collisions annually throughout the city. Data from the Belgian Road Safety Institute shows intersections lead to almost 40% of emergency vehicle-related collisions, mainly because drivers do not yield to emergency vehicles.
Brussels maintains well-defined procedures for all emergency vehicles that require both sirens and flashing lights to be active in critical situations. The Vias Institute conducted research in 2021, which showed that emergency siren response from drivers reaches only 70%, with 30% of drivers unable to detect or provide quick reactions to emergency vehicles. Public safety efforts through awareness campaigns have been introduced by the city, while accidents continue to occur.
Vehicle-related activities continue to cause harm to firefighters. Belgian firefighters sustain 12% of all their work-related injuries from transport incidents, according to European Fire Safety Alliance statistics. Most incidents result in minor injuries, but vehicle collisions disrupt emergency response services, thus jeopardising public safety measures. The Ganshoren crash police investigation will reveal whether traffic violations and other elements contributed to the incident.
