A fire broke out on Saturday around 2:40 p.m. on the flat roof of an apartment building located on Quai de l’Industrie in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. The inhabitants were evacuated by the Brussels-West police before the arrival of the firefighters on the spot. One of the residents, a man in his 40s, began to put out the fire with the fire hose provided in the building. He injured his ankle jumping on the roof and had to be taken to hospital, Brussels firefighter spokesman Walter Derieuw said at the end of the day.
From initial observations, it appears that a smoker from an upper floor threw a badly extinguished cigarette butt onto the flat roof. Debris and very dry vegetation were there and caught fire.
The building has one side of 2-3 floors and another of six levels.
The fire spread to the facade and the insulation of the highest part of the building.
The firefighters took over from the occupant who had started the extinction. The fire was put out with the equipment provided for this purpose in the building, which was particularly well equipped in terms of fire prevention. Fire crews removed pieces of the affected flat roof and facade to prevent a flare-up of flames.
All the inhabitants have meanwhile been able to return to their apartments.
The spokesperson for the Brussels fire brigade reminds smokers not to throw away their cigarette butts, especially during this heat wave during which the vegetation is particularly dry.