A large fire erupted at the Saint-Gobain site in Auvelais, Namur Province, on Thursday afternoon, severely damaging a warehouse but sparing nearby structures. The blaze, which started around 4:15 p.m., was quickly contained by local firefighters.
The fire, which engulfed a warehouse covering thousands of square meters, prompted an immediate response from the Val de Sambre region fire department. Within two hours, firefighters successfully brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to an adjacent hall that stored 1000 tonnes of pellets.
Fire service zone commander Marc Gilbert, who was present at the scene, reported that the fire’s origin appeared to be accidental. The warehouse contained a diverse mix of waste materials, including plastic rubbish, aerosol cans, metals, hydrocarbons, and even refrigerators.
“With the help of a federal police helicopter, we quickly pinpointed the fire’s source to a single container,” Gilbert explained. “While we believe the fire was accidental, standard checks by the public prosecutor may still be conducted.”
Although the fire generated significant smoke, Gilbert assured that it was not particularly toxic. Nevertheless, residents living within a 3-4 kilometer radius were advised to keep their windows shut as a precautionary measure.
By 6:15 p.m., the situation was reported to be under control. “Thankfully, we had access to an industrial fire pump, which was crucial in our efforts to combat the flames and prevent them from reaching the adjacent hall with the pellets,” Gilbert added.
The prompt and efficient response by the firefighters helped mitigate the potential for more severe damage and ensured that the incident did not escalate further.
Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage and will conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the exact cause of the fire. In the meantime, the Saint-Gobain site remains under scrutiny as cleanup and recovery efforts commence.
