Brussels Resident Hailed a Hero After Dramatic Anderlecht Tower Fire
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A quick-thinking resident is being celebrated after bravely extinguishing a fire in an Anderlecht apartment tower on Thursday, preventing what could have been a far more devastating outcome. Five people were hospitalized following the incident, but the swift actions of the unnamed individual are credited with containing the blaze.
A Leap of Faith to Confront the Flames
The fire broke out in an apartment block in the Peterbos neighborhood of Anderlecht. A resident, living on the fourth floor with his family, immediately sprang into action. “I live on the 4th floor with my mother, my brothers and sisters in an apartment in block 13. When I realized that there was a fire, I did not hesitate for a single second. I jumped three balconies to enter the burning apartment and put out the fire using several fire extinguishers,” he recalled.
The resident, who has lived in Peterbos his entire life, described a moment driven by instinct. “It was normal to act like that,” he stated. “With the adrenaline, I didn’t ask myself any questions. It was normal to act like this, someone had to do it. The fire was already starting to spread to the second floor. The other residents had taken refuge on their balconies and saw me pass in front of them. The smoky corridors were not accessible.”
Investigation Points to Possible Arson
Emergency services arrived on the scene and transported the rescuer to a local hospital for observation, where he remained for several days. He later reflected on the risk he took, acknowledging, “In hindsight, I understand that I put my life in danger and that it could have ended worse for me, but at the time, my only intuition was to act.”
Firefighters encountered a puzzling scene upon arrival. According to Walter Derieuw, a spokesperson for the Brussels firefighters, “How the fire was brought under control remains unknown. We found the fire hose from the hallway rolled out into the apartment, several empty fire extinguishers and a few residual fires.”
An investigation is currently underway, with authorities exploring the possibility of criminal origin. Initial findings suggest the fire may have been deliberately set by individuals involved in drug trafficking, targeting a vacant, squatted apartment. “
A Community’s Gratitude
The heroic resident’s actions have resonated deeply within the Anderlecht community. He has become the first citizen to have his portrait displayed in the “Pantheon” of the Foyer Anderlechtois headquarters, a testament to his bravery and selflessness. This recognition underscores the importance of community spirit and the courage of ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances.
