Anderlecht(The Brussels Morning Newspaper): A fire in a squatted building on Bergensesteenweg in Anderlecht was quickly controlled by firefighters.Challenges included unstable structures and uncertain occupants complicating rescue efforts and increasing risks.
Last night on 21 July around 8:40 there was a fire in a building on Bergensesteenweg in the Kuregem area of Anderlecht. A lot of smoke covered Brussels fast so the fire brigade acted quickly. Six fire trucks went to the site to fight the fire. The firefighters worked hard and after about 30 minutes they got the fire under control. Even though they got the fire under control fast the firefighters had to stay there for a few hours to put out all the remaining hotspots and make sure everything was safe. It has been said that because of their quick and thorough work they stopped more damage and kept the fire from spreading to other buildings nearby.
Why is fighting fires in squatted buildings so challenging for Firefighters?
Walter Derieuw from the fire department said that it’s really tough to fight a fire in a squatted building. The main problem is not knowing for sure who’s inside. Firefighters can’t tell how many people are there which makes it hard to search and rescue them. This uncertainty can be risky because firefighters might come across unexpected people like kids who urgently need help. In squatted buildings the floors and stairs are wobbly and unsafe making them likely to collapse during a fire. This makes it hard for firefighters to move around safely. These buildings often have dangerous stuff like gas bottles that can explode or release harmful chemicals making it even more risky for the firefighters.
He mentioned that people living in squatted buildings can make things harder. They might be using drugs or alcohol so they might not listen to firefighters. Sometimes they can even act aggressively putting the firefighters at risk. Because of these issues firefighters need to be extra careful and use special plans to put out the fire safely and keep themselves protected.
