Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Diestsestraat shopping district in Leuven saw an unattended roof fire burn through last night without malicious intent. The Leuven police confirm this finding. Four student studios in a neighbouring building evacuated their residents because of the fire.
A roof fire started during the night at Leuven’s popular shopping district, Diestsestraat, without evidence of intentional actions. Crews extinguished the fire in less than thirty minutes, during which no people or structures were allowed to enter the unoccupied renovation site. The incident triggered smoke and water damage and displaced residents in four student studios located next to the building.
The initial fire outbreak occurred at 19:45 during pedestrian hours in the renovation area of the Diestsestraat building.
The incident was promptly controlled by firefighters, yet additional actions were required to confirm that no flare-ups were remaining. The neighbouring building that contained four student studios and a shop withstood smoke and water damage, causing students to seek emergency living arrangements for that evening.
Marc Vranckx of the Leuven police stated, “We know that there was work in the building earlier in the day, but what exactly caused it is not yet clear.”
What are the details behind fires in renovation projects?
Building renovations frequently trigger fires because of construction work activities that include electrical wiring and welding operations and unsafe storage practices of flammable materials.
The Belgian Federal Public Service for Home Affairs reveals that annual fire incidents mostly occur in construction sites where electrical faults stand as the primary cause of these events. Belgium experienced 15,000 fires in 2022, and a substantial number of these fires happened within Leuven’s urban districts due to its dense residential and historical building layout.
The Diestsestraat residential and shopping area has experienced higher rates of renovations during recent years because Leuven is working to update its urban infrastructure. The project caused the evacuation of residents without reported injuries and significant property destruction, demonstrating the dangers inherently tied to this kind of work.
