Brussels fire brigade mourns colleague after turbulent summer

Updated 17 August 2026 — BRUSSELS: The Brussels fire brigade was mourning the death of one of its colleagues on Sunday, 16 August, BRUZZ reported. The person’s name, role and date and circumstances of death had not been made public in the reporting available by Monday morning.

The loss comes at the end of an exceptionally difficult summer for the Brussels Fire and Emergency Medical Service. In July, its crews responded to the OXY construction-site fire near Place De Brouckère, where six workers died. The project’s main contractor, Cordeel, said the fire began on the morning of 14 July and confirmed that emergency workers found several victims inside the building. The investigation into that fire remained under the authority of the competent authorities.

Later that month, firefighters attended a residential fire on Chaussée de Haecht in Schaerbeek. The municipality confirmed two deaths and several injuries, including injuries to children, and said emergency teams evacuated residents and secured the building. Judicial investigators were tasked with establishing the cause.

The brigade was simultaneously confronting a dispute over staffing and resources. ACV Public Services said 48,500 hours of annual leave went untaken in 2025 because too few colleagues were available to cover shifts. The union called a 24-hour strike for Belgium’s national day on 21 July, demanding recruitment and additional operational resources.

The action continued for five days. On 25 July, only 17% of the planned shift personnel were present, according to brigade spokesperson Walter Derieuw in reporting carried by Het Nieuwsblad and Belga. Fire-service coverage fell to about 20%, while urgent ambulance coverage stood at roughly 60% with support from outside Brussels. Residents were asked to reserve the 112 number for genuine emergencies.

BRUZZ reported that the unions later accepted a proposal from Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès and suspended the strike while retaining the option of further action. The agreement followed emergency talks convened by the regional government after operational resources had fallen to 25% during the stoppage.

The colleague’s death is distinct from those operational and political disputes, and no causal connection has been established. It nevertheless adds a personal loss to a service whose staff have dealt with repeated fatal incidents and unusually intense workplace pressure. The immediate next steps are internal support and mourning. Public confirmation of the colleague’s identity, funeral arrangements or the circumstances of death has not yet followed.