Brussels firefighters escort Olivier Francotte to funeral after fatal gas explosion

Brussels firefighters accompanied a funeral procession for Sergeant-Major Olivier Francotte to Koekelberg on Monday morning, ten days after he died during a gas-leak intervention in the city centre.

Belgium Impulse Editorial·24 August 2026·3 min read·

Well established· 1 primary source + 2 official documents + 3 independent reporting sources

TopicsOlivier FrancotteBrussels Fire ServiceKoekelbergSibelgaTreurenbergSingle Resolution BoardBrussels labour prosecutorBrussels gas explosion

In 30 seconds

Firefighters escorted Olivier Francotte from the Héliport station towards Koekelberg on 24 August.
Francotte died during a gas-leak intervention at Treurenberg on 14 August.
Another firefighter and two Sibelga employees were seriously injured but later reported out of danger.
The Brussels labour prosecutor’s office is investigating the circumstances of the explosions.

Updated 24 August 2026 at 11:19 CEST —

firefighters escorted Sergeant-Major Olivier Francotte through Brussels on Monday morning, 24 August, before a farewell ceremony at the Basilica of Koekelberg, according to Het Nieuwsblad and BX1. Francotte, 50, died on 14 August after two explosions during an intervention at the Single Resolution Board building on .

The procession left the Brussels fire service’s main station on Avenue de l’Héliport and travelled towards Koekelberg. BX1 reported that Francotte’s colleagues accompanied him to the basilica, where the ceremony was scheduled to begin shortly before 11:00. Several roads along the route were closed during the morning, following a warning from the regional security agency safe.brussels reported by BRUZZ.

The public tribute preceded funeral arrangements that Het Nieuwsblad described as private. Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès had announced that Francotte would receive a state funeral, according to BRUZZ and The Brussels Times.

Francotte was a sergeant-major in the Brussels fire service’s 21st company. BRUZZ reported that emergency crews and employees of Brussels network operator Sibelga had been called after a contractor damaged a low-pressure gas pipe at the Treurenberg building. Two explosions followed during the intervention. Francotte was trapped beneath debris and did not survive, Het Nieuwsblad reported.

Another firefighter and two Sibelga employees were seriously injured. Dilliès subsequently said that none of the three remained in life-threatening condition, according to BRUZZ. The Single Resolution Board, the EU authority based in the building, said its employees had been evacuated before the explosions and that its operations continued from another site and through remote work.

The precise chain of events that allowed gas to accumulate and ignite remains under investigation. Sibelga said it was cooperating fully with the authorities, while the Brussels labour prosecutor’s office opened an inquiry into the workplace accident, according to BX1 and BRUZZ.

Where this is happening

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Brussels · 50.847, 4.352 · Open in OpenStreetMap ↗ · Source: Wikidata Q239

The loss has particular weight within the fire service. BRUZZ noted that the brigade’s previous fatality on duty occurred in March 2022, when firefighter Jean-François Spelmans died during a fire at the former Sheraton hotel. Investigators must now establish the origin of the Treurenberg explosions and whether intervention or worksite procedures contributed to the accident.

Who’s affectedBrussels firefightersSibelga employeesKoekelberg residentscentral Brussels commutersSingle Resolution Board staffBrussels emergency-service personnel

Context & what happens next

What to do

The funeral-related road closures applied on the morning of 24 August along the route between the Héliport fire station and Koekelberg; travellers using those areas needed to allow extra time or choose another route. No continuing public transport, road or building restrictions are specified beyond that date. Staff normally based at the Single Resolution Board’s Treurenberg premises should follow internal workplace instructions because the agency said the building would remain temporarily closed, with remote work or its second location available. The next substantive development to watch is the Brussels labour prosecutor’s account of what caused the explosions and whether further safety measures follow.

Impact

Regional — The funeral procession prompted temporary road closures between the Héliport fire station and Koekelberg, while the death has deeply affected Brussels emergency-service personnel.

Evidence

Well established · 1 primary source + 2 official documents + 3 independent reporting sources

Explore evidence →

Het Nieuwsblad