New Year's Eve is traditionally a turbulent night for the emergency services – who are often targeted by projectiles and fireworks during interventions. As a result, the Brussels fire service has taken to using old vehicles for fear of vandalism and violence.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, violence against emergency workers in Brussels has been on the rise: they are pelted with flares, fireworks, bottles and other objects that can serve as projectiles. From January to June, the fire brigade for the Brussels-Capital Region recorded 96 incidents.
"New Year's Eve is a war zone in Brussels," Eric Labourdette, experienced firefighter and trade unionist, told Het Nieuwsblad. "It is madness that we, emergency workers who have to save lives, are treated this."
He added that the Israel-Gaza violence creates additional tension. "We expect that we will once again become the favourite target. It has even come to the point that during such turbulent nights, we use older vehicles. Nobody wants to turn out with a brand-new fire engine that will immediately be targeted."
Extra precautions
The older fire engines will be used to have extra capacity available if needed on New Year's Eve. However, in situations that could lead to violence, those older engines will be deployed first. Fire brigades and police are deploying extra resources and personnel and the Regional Crisis Centre has also been activated to ensure everything runs smoothly.
"The Regional Crisis Centre supports the police unit of command for the Brussels territory, monitoring tools by analysing collected information and coordinating emergency and intervention services," Sofie Lavaux, director-general of safe.brussels, told Belga News Agency. "All emergency and intervention services are involved and follow the course of the evening in real-time from the crisis centre."
Police and fire services are also taking extra precautions: all police officers will carry earplugs to protect themselves from noise pollution and loud bangs.
"We hope we will be able to carry out our interventions in safe conditions, both for our personnel and for the victims and bystanders, and this in a framework of mutual respect," said spokesperson for the Brussels fire service Walter Derieuw. "We for some sense of responsibility when driving and we hope that our de-escalation vehicle remains in its garage during New Year's Eve. Please use public transport as much as possible, trips with STIB are free from midnight."
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Where necessary, police will also go out together with the fire brigade to avoid being targeted by projectiles or fireworks. Like previous years, the situation will be analysed each time there is an incoming call. "If there are too many risks, we will get police protection."
"That will not be the case for the whole territory, just for some zones. It will depend on the situation on the ground, every intervention will be considered, if there are too many risks, we will get protection," Derieuw explained. All fire engines are also equipped with a plastic film over the windows to prevent them from shattering and firefighters from being injured by broken glass.
Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort also issued a general decree banning the use, possession and transport of fireworks until 3 January. Anyone who violates this rule risks a jail term of eight to 14 days and a fine of €208 to €1,600.
