Brussels funeral procession honours firefighter Olivier Francotte

Updated 24 August 2026 — A funeral procession crossed Brussels on Monday morning, 24 August, carrying Sergeant-Major Olivier Francotte from the Brussels Fire Brigade’s Heliport station to his state funeral at the Basilica of Koekelberg. BX1 reported that Francotte’s colleagues accompanied him to the farewell ceremony, scheduled to begin shortly before 11:00.

The procession followed Avenue de l’Héliport, Boulevard Baudouin, Place Sainctelette and Boulevard Léopold II before continuing through Jette and Koekelberg. Safe.brussels closed these roads and several nearby avenues between 09:00 and 11:00, according to route information published by BX1 and BRUZZ. Authorities asked motorists to avoid the north-western part of the city while the cortege passed.

Francotte, 50, died on 14 August while responding to a gas leak in an office building at Treurenberg

Place

Treurenberg

Central Brussels location of the damaged gas pipe, emergency response and explosions.

Why it matters

Central Brussels location of the damaged gas pipe, emergency response and explosions.

About

De Treurenberg is een van de heuvels van de Belgische hoofdstad Brussel en de naam van een kort straatje. De helling ligt ten oosten van de oude stad en stijgt oostwaarts naar de bovenstad. Het straatje Treurenberg verbindt het Sint-Goedeleplein met de Koningsstraat. Op nr. 15 is er een stripmuur van De schorpioen.

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Another firefighter and two Sibelga technicians suffered serious injuries. Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès said last week that none remained in life-threatening condition, according to BRUZZ and The Brussels Times. Sibelga confirmed that its two employees were injured and said it was cooperating fully with the authorities investigating the accident.

The Brussels government granted Francotte a state funeral after Dilliès visited the Heliport station and met members of the brigade. King Philippe also telephoned brigade chief Tanguy du Bus de Warnaffe to convey his condolences to Francotte’s family and colleagues, the Brussels Fire Brigade told The Brussels Times.

Francotte held the rank of sergeant-major and served with the brigade’s 21st company. His colleague Laurent Depature told BRUZZ that Francotte shared his professional knowledge generously and left a significant absence within the station. Monday’s formal honours reflected both that personal loss and the risks faced by emergency workers responding to damaged gas infrastructure.

The precise sequence leading from the damaged pipe to the two explosions remains under investigation. Sibelga has not publicly assigned responsibility, and the competent authorities have not released final findings. Their conclusions will determine whether operational, construction-site or gas-safety procedures require further action.