Hasselt (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): A tragic house fire in Kuringen on February 11 claimed the life of a 51-year-old man leaving his children fatherless. Belgium faces a surge in fire fatalities with 44 deaths reported this year.
On Sunday February 11 there was a big fire at a house in Kuringen and a 51-year-old Belgian man of Indian origin died in the fire. He couldn’t get out of the fire and was found dead there. He might have died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning which often happens in house fires and can be fatal. The man’s death has left his two children without a dad. The police are looking into how the fire started and what happened to figure out the reasons behind the tragedy.
What factors contribute to the surge in house fire deaths in Hasselt?
In Hasselt in 2024 the fire in Kuringen is the only one where someone died in a house fire.Tim Renders who knows a lot about preventing fires says this year has been super bad for house fires all over the country. Last year 60 people died in house fires in Belgium. This year in less than seven months already 44 people have died. Renders is really worried about how often these terrible things are happening and says we need to do more to stop fires and make sure people know how to stay safe.
In Flanders this year 24 people have died in house fires the same as all of last year. That’s one death every 9 days, which is really concerning. On average, about 26.5 people die in house fires each year in Flanders since 2014. Most victims were in East Flanders (10) and Antwerp (6). Charging devices like phones, laptops, electric bikes and cars at night could be a factor causing short circuits and fires. Investigating house fire causes more thoroughly can help prevent such tragedies more effectively.
How can people enhance fire safety in your home?
To stay safe from fires having a smoke detector is crucial. In Flanders it’s required to have one on each floor but that might not be enough. Look for places in your home with a high fire risk like near the freezer, electrical panel, or where you charge devices at night and install smoke detectors there.
It has been said that it’s also important to ensure you can hear the alarm from anywhere in your home. Connect your smoke detectors wirelessly so that if a fire starts in one area you’ll be alerted in all parts of your home. Smart smoke detectors are the safest but costly. You can opt for regular linked smoke detectors as a more budget-friendly alternative.
At night keep a flashlight handy if your bedroom is dark. Talk to your kids about fire safety during the summer holidays. Plan an escape route and remind them to close doors. These steps will help you be prepared in case of an emergency.
