Hoboken (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A fire on Sint-Bernardsesteenweg, Hoboken, injured 8 people (including a mom, 2 kids), with 1 firefighter and 1 officer slightly injured. Police arrested a young resident; arson is suspected.
As VRT GVA News reported, on May 29, 2025, around 9 p.m., a fire started in the stairwell of an apartment building on Sint-Bernardsesteenweg in Hoboken, a district within the city of Antwerp, Belgium.
The fire was between the second and third floors. The Antwerp Fire Zone quickly came and put out the fire. According to Jasmien O., there was a lot of smoke in the building, which was dangerous for the people inside.
Because of the fire, the authorities sent lots of ambulances and medical teams to help. Firefighters helped the residents get out, including some who had to be rescued from the roof with a ladder truck because the stairs were full of smoke.
Who was behind the Hoboken fire that injured 8 people?
8 people had to be treated for breathing in smoke, including a mom and her 2 kids. They were in bad condition and went to the hospital, as Wouter Bruyns from the police said. A firefighter and a police officer got injured a little bit while helping, but they’re okay.
He mentioned that the fast help from the emergency teams stopped things from getting worse. The authorities will look into what caused the fire and see if the building needs to be made safer.
They’re investigating the possibility of arson. Police spokesman Wouter Bruyns said that as part of the investigation, they have arrested a young person who lives in the building. They’re now trying to figure out if this person had anything to do with starting the fire.
The fire department is still at the building, getting rid of the thick smoke. They’re trying to clear out the smoke from the apartments and hallways. Fire department spokesperson Jasmien O said it’s not yet known if people can go back to their homes tonight.
He mentioned that whether residents can return depends on how safe the building is, how much damage the smoke caused, and how well they can get rid of the smoke. For now, firefighters and police are in charge, working together to help and investigate what happened.
