A fire broke out on Friday evening in the garage of a detached house located on Allée du Languedoc in Evere, according to Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels fire brigade.
A woman found unconscious on the pavement was revived by a medical team and taken to hospital. Her condition was due to a pre-existing medical issue, and her life is not in danger.
Two older children present in the house were unharmed. The fire, which occurred in the garage and had a significant heat load, was extinguished using a low-pressure hose. The cause of the fire appears accidental but is yet to be confirmed, the fire brigade spokesperson noted.
During the emergency call to 112, the presence of animals was reported. Firefighters successfully rescued a dog, a cat, and a caged bird. Tragically, six deceased cats were found on the ground floor in the affected area.
The electricity supply was cut off by Sibelga to ensure safety. The two children were cared for by the police from the Brussels North area (Schaerbeek/Saint-Josse-ten-Noode/Evere) and local services, and Evere’s mayor, Alessandro Zappala, was informed of the incident.
Mr Derieuw also mentioned that no smoke detectors were installed in the house. The fire brigade emphasised the legal requirement to install smoke detectors along internal circulation paths in all homes in the Brussels region, effective from 1 January 2025.
