Fire breaks out in car garage at Nike Europe headquarters in Hilversum
A hybrid vehicle caught fire in an underground garage beneath a Hilversum office complex on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 2,000 employees. The building houses the European headquarters of Nike. The fire began in the garage at the Colosseum office complex shortly before 11 a.m., NH reported.
Firefighters were first notified of a possible car fire just before 11 a.m., and the alarm was elevated twice over the course of 30 minutes. A Grip 1 regional emergency was declared around noon, where responding personnel are advised to work under a single incident commander. Firefighters have not yet brought the fire under control.
Employees were evacuated to a safe distance outside the building. No injuries have been reported. Photographs from the scene show the garage filled with thick smoke, which reduced visibility across the parking area.
Authorities have deployed extensive firefighting resources, including a fire-suppression robot. “In connection with released gases, it is safer for firefighters to extinguish the fire remotely,” the fire department said.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Fire officials issued safety warnings to the surrounding area, advising residents to stay out of the smoke, close windows and doors, turn off ventilation, and give emergency responders space.
