A fire broke out late on Wednesday in a seventh-floor apartment of a nine-storey residential building on Boulevard du Souverain in Watermael-Boitsfort.
The fire caused the evacuation of around fifty people but causing no injuries, according to Brussels Fire Brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw.
The alarm was raised by a vigilant neighbour when a smoke detector was triggered, while the apartment’s occupants were away. Firefighters gained access using a key from another neighbour.
They used a wet riser to extinguish the fire and deployed a "smoke-stopper" to prevent smoke from spreading to common areas.
Approximately fifty residents evacuated the building and gathered in the car park. The fire, determined to be accidental, was swiftly brought under control, although the affected apartment is now uninhabitable.
After ventilation and carbon monoxide level checks, other residents were allowed to return. The operation concluded around 23:45. Emergency services from Brussels Fire Brigade, the 112 medical services, and the Marlow police zone attended the scene.
"The quick action of the smoke detector and the alert neighbour enabled a rapid response, preventing more serious human and material consequences," Walter Derieuw highlighted.
He reminded that smoke detectors have been obligatory in all Brussels homes since 1 January 2025. They must be optical, compliant with EN 14604 standards, and feature a built-in ten-year battery.
