Fire has destroyed three houses on the Matrozenplein in the West Flemish coastal village of Heist. No one was injured in the blaze. However, 15 residents were evacuated. The fire broke out in a terraced house at around 4am on Wednesday. It soon spread to two neighbouring houses that are currently unoccupied. The cause of the fire is still unclear. The West Flemish Judicial Authorities have launched an investigation to try and find out what caused the blaze.
Heist-Aan-Zee
Three houses destroyed by fire in West Flemish coastal village
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The fire started in a terrace house at around 4am. The two neighbouring houses that were also severely damaged in the blaze are currently unoccupied. One resident was in the house where the fire started. She was able to get out in time and was not injured.
The Mayor of Knokke-Heist Pieter De Groote told VRT News that “It is still unclear what caused the fire”. The local emergency services say that the fire started on the ground floor.
A lot of smoke
As a result of the large amount of smoke produced by the blaze 15 local residents were evacuated from their homes. It is also possible that asbestos was released into the air during the fire.
The Judicial Authorities have been informed. It is still unclear whether the fire was accident or if it was started deliberately.
It took fire fighters an hour and a half to get the fire under control. Fire fighters came from Knokke-Heist, Bruges, De Haan, Blankenberge and Torhout (all West Flanders) to tackle the blaze.