Ganshoren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The ACV union warns of Brussels Fire Service staff shortages after an 18-hour Ganshoren warehouse fire. Steven Gillesen highlights operational risks; Ans Persoons confirms new recruitment and talks with unions.
As VRT News reported, the ACV union has raised serious concerns about staff shortages at the Brussels Fire and Emergency Medical Service (DBDMH) after an 18-hour Ganshoren warehouse fire in the Brussels Capital Region, Belgium.
“Without the help of fire departments outside Brussels, the Brussels fire department might not have been able to contain the fire. The fire might have raged for hours longer, or even days,”
says Steven Gillesen of the ACV (Civil Service).
How are staff shortages affecting Brussels fire service operations?
Gillesen of the AC union said the fire department has been understaffed for years, worsened by a sharp increase in workload over the past 20 years.
“Since 2012, staffing plans have been drawn up based on budgetary guidelines from the Brussels government, without considering actual needs on the ground. As a result, the fire department’s workforce has grown by barely 16.78% over the past 20 years, while the workload has increased exponentially,”
he says.
Officials mentioned that the shortage is felt on the ground, with crews forced to choose between sending an ambulance or a fire truck. Gillesen, a representative of the ACV union, has warned Brussels politicians about serious risks caused by staff shortages at the city’s fire department.
The warning comes as Brussels political parties negotiate a new budget agreement. Informal discussions suggest that all institutions will face budget cuts. The fire department will be protected, but no extra funding will be provided to address growing workloads and chronic staff shortages.
According to the responsible Brussels State Secretary, Ans Persoons (Vooruit.brussels), the Brussels government recognises that
“the force is under pressure and interventions are increasing.”
“Their work is essential, and Brussels is challenging. That’s precisely why, at my request, a new recruitment pool has just been opened to maintain staffing levels. In recent years, significant investments have been made in infrastructure and equipment to meet these challenges.”
Gillesen added that the union has
“explored all necessary avenues”
to solve the problem but warned that further action may be unavoidable if no solution is found. Persoons, another union representative, said talks are planned with the fire department unions to discuss working conditions. Recent figures show that 48 firefighters have been trained and joined the force each year over the past 2 years.
The operational core is also at full capacity, it says.
“In addition, half of the vehicle fleet has been replaced, and two new fire brigade outposts are in the works. A future Brussels government may review and further expand the staffing level.”
Yesterday morning, Nov 7, 2025, firefighters were called to a warehouse fire on Nestor Martinstraat, on the border of Ganshoren and Sint-Agatha-Berchem. The fire started around 9:45 a.m. and was brought under control only at 4 a.m., after nearly 18 hours of continuous work. Firefighters were assisted by the Red Cross, the East Flanders Centrum fire zone, the Flemish Brabant West fire department, and the Antwerp Rivierenland fire zone.
The warehouse fire is the second recent incident where the fire department relied on the Red Cross for ambulance support. A similar situation occurred during Storm Benjamin at the end of October 2025. Gillesen warned that without urgent action to increase staff, Brussels firefighters will struggle to respond to emergencies.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
