Electric scooter fire forces evacuations in Schaerbeek apartment building
Updated: 23 June 2026, 00:00 UTC. BX1 reported that no one was injured, several residents were evacuated, and tram traffic was partly interrupted during the response. Firefighters brought the blaze under control with a high-pressure hose.
In 30 seconds
- BX1/Belga said the Schaerbeek fire broke out around 21:20 on 16 June 2026 on Avenue Princesse Elisabeth.
- Brussels fire spokesperson Walter Derieuw told BX1 the fire started at an electric scooter in a first-floor flat.
- BX1 reported no injuries and no hospitalisations after checks by a SMUR doctor from Saint-Jean hospital.
- The affected flat was declared uninhabitable; other residents returned after safety checks, according to BX1.
The subject is a residential fire in Schaerbeek, one of ' 19 municipalities. The named entities are Brussels fire service spokesperson Walter Derieuw, the Brussels fire brigade, , SMUR Saint-Jean, and . The fire source identified by the fire service was a trottinette electrique, an electric scooter powered by a rechargeable battery.
Background
Electric scooters became common in Brussels as micromobility expanded, placing more rechargeable lithium-ion batteries inside apartments, corridors and storage areas. Fire services in several countries now treat damaged or overheating batteries as a distinct residential risk because fires can reignite and require cooling and thermal checks.
What to do
Residents should keep escape routes clear, use working smoke detectors, avoid charging damaged batteries, and call emergency services immediately when smoke or overheating appears.
Impact
Regional — The impact is limited to Brussels, especially Schaerbeek residents, tram users affected by the partial interruption, and apartment occupants dealing with fire safety checks and water damage.
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Voices & reactions
What the main actors are doing
Reported positions, summarised — not direct quotationsFire safety services
Fire services emphasise prevention inside homes: working smoke detectors, clear escape routes, careful charging and rapid evacuation. In this case, BX1 quoted Walter Derieuw saying that a functioning detector gives occupants early warning and can separate a contained incident from a tragedy.
Micromobility users and residents
Electric scooter users rely on compact battery-powered transport in Brussels, often storing devices inside flats because secure outdoor storage is limited. The safety issue is therefore not scooter use itself, but how batteries are charged, maintained and stored in dense apartment buildings.
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