Firefighters battle overnight blaze at Willebroek waste facility

Firefighters in Willebroek, Belgium, spent the night battling a smoldering fire at the Revabo waste processing company. The blaze, located in a compost heap of green waste, covered an estimated 400 square meters.

The fire department received initial reports of smoke around 6:30 p.m. yesterday evening, quickly escalating to a full-scale intervention. Crews from Boom-Willebroek responded to the scene in the Hoeikensstraat. Firefighter lieutenant Ivan Vergauwen stated that the fire likely resulted from the recent hot weather, causing spontaneous combustion within the compost heap. "There is no question of arson," Vergauwen clarified.

Firefighting efforts are expected to continue until this afternoon. Water is being pumped from the adjacent Brussels-Scheldt Sea Canal to douse the flames. The company has deployed bulldozers and cranes to break apart and move the compost heap, allowing firefighters to wet the material and stop the self-ignition. Smoke and odor have affected the surrounding area, with the plume visible up to 500 meters away in Klein-Willebroek. Residents have been advised to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation systems, although the fire department emphasized that the smoke is not harmful.

Fire crews remain on site this morning, and the smoke and odor are expected to persist. The incident highlights the challenges of managing green waste, especially during periods of high temperatures.