Waasmunster (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A fire in a stable in Waasmunster killed 17 horses. The owner and firefighters had difficulty saving the horses.
On January 13, 2025, at 1:00 am., A fire broke out in a stable in Waasmunster. The fire caused significant damage. It started quickly and spread fast because of the dry straw in the stalls. One of the stable owners saw the flames and ran back inside to save the horses.
The owner faced thick smoke and intense heat while trying to rescue them. He managed to free a few horses but got burns on his hands in the process. The fire was too strong, and most of the stable was already burning when help arrived. Many animals were lost, and the stable was left in ruins.
What were the consequences of the stable fire for the owners and community?
Out of the 25 horses in the stable, only a few were saved. 17 animals died in the fire. It has been said that this loss was very hard for the owners. These horses meant years of care and hard work. The owners were heartbroken.
The fire brigade faced a hard fight to stop the fire at the stable. The building was partly open, which made it easy for the flames to spread quickly. This made it very difficult to control the fire. There was not enough water available to help fight the flames.
Emergency services from Waasland quickly organised to bring in more help. Many teams arrived with extra resources and more people to assist. Tanker trucks were sent to a large fish pond on Neerstraat, three kilometres away from the stable. These trucks worked hard to collect water and transport it back to the fire. They kept bringing water to help the firefighters battle the blaze. It took many hours to control the fire, even with all the help. The tanker trucks made many trips to bring water, but the fire remained very strong. By the time the fire was stopped, the stable was mostly destroyed.
According to the owners, the biggest loss was the animals. Seventeen horses died in the fire, and this made the whole community very sad. They mentioned that the fire brigade worked hard, but the loss of these horses turned the event into a tragedy.
