Berlaar (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A major fire hit a Misstraat apartment in Berlaar, displacing 9 residents. Police spokesperson Sofie Soon reported halted trains as firefighters secured the damaged building.
As GVA News reported, a large fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, Nov 15, 2025, in an apartment building on Misstraat, near the station in the centre of Berlaar, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The fire started on the top floor and spread quickly. Thick smoke rose into the sky, prompting a rapid response from police and firefighters.
Police spokesperson Sofie Soon from the Berlaar-Nilens zone said the blaze was serious. Train traffic was temporarily stopped, and the public was warned to avoid the area. Roads near the building were closed.
What caused the Misstraat apartment fire in Berlaar?
The apartment building was badly damaged and has been declared uninhabitable. At least 9 residents were evacuated and are now staying in emergency shelters. Firefighters worked for several hours to put out the fire and monitor the building’s stability.
Authorities said the fast evacuation and coordinated response helped prevent injuries. By Saturday evening, Nov 15, 2025, train services had resumed. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire. They urged people to stay away from the building until it is fully secured.
Berlaar has seen several serious apartment fires in recent years. On 15 July 2024, a fire broke out on Meistraat, injuring an 80-year-old woman who later died in hospital. Earlier that same month, another blaze on Meistraat left an 81-year-old woman in life-threatening condition after being rescued by emergency services. In August 2019, a house at the corner of Legrellestraat and Markt was severely damaged by fire and later demolished.
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