Electric scooter fire forces evacuations in Schaerbeek apartment building
Updated: 23 June 2026, 00:00 UTC. SCHAERBEEK, 17 June 2026: A fire that started in an electric scooter forced residents from an apartment building on Avenue Princesse Elisabeth at about 21:20 on Tuesday, according to Brussels fire service spokesperson Walter Derieuw, cited by BX1 and Belga. BX1 reported that no one was injured, several residents were evacuated, and tram traffic was partly interrupted during the response. The Brussels fire service found the fire had started at the scooter in a first-floor flat of a three-storey building, BX1 reported. Firefighters brought the blaze under control with a high-pressure hose. The damaged flat is uninhabitable, while other residents returned after safety checks, according to the same report. BX1 said no smoke detector was present in the affected flat, citing Derieuw, who reminded residents that working detectors are compulsory and give early warning before a fire becomes fatal.
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About this story
The subject is a residential fire in Schaerbeek, one of Brussels' 19 municipalities. The named entities are Brussels fire service spokesperson Walter Derieuw, the Brussels fire brigade, Sibelga, SMUR Saint-Jean, BX1 and Belga. The fire source identified by the fire service was a trottinette electrique, an electric scooter powered by a rechargeable battery.
How to read this story
The history
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.
Regional impact
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.
Local impact
Schaerbeek residents faced an evacuation and one flat became uninhabitable. Tram traffic was partly interrupted during the emergency response, according to BX1.
International angle
Battery fire risks linked to lithium-ion devices are not unique to Brussels; Le Monde and academic research describe thermal runaway and battery-fire management as broader safety challenges.
What this means for you
Residents should keep escape routes clear, use working smoke detectors, avoid charging damaged batteries, and call emergency services immediately when smoke or overheating appears.
Opposing perspectives
- Fire 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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This briefing was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by a Belgium Impulse editor before publication. methodology.