House fire leaves two dead in Vroomshoop; Neighbors heard exploding fireworks
Two residents were killed in a devastating fire in Vroomshoop late Wednesday night. The blaze, which broke out around 8 p.m. at a house on Meidoornlaan, also claimed the lives of three dogs.
Neighbors reported hearing what they thought was a fireworks explosion just before the fire erupted. However, the fire department has not confirmed whether the sound was related to the blaze.
"We’ve heard the rumors and seen the reports, but we need to conduct a thorough investigation before jumping to conclusions," said a police spokesperson. Authorities are actively seeking witnesses and any relevant video footage to help clarify the cause.
Firefighters managed to extract the two residents from the house alive, but they later succumbed to their injuries. The man and woman, who were the homeowners, were treated by paramedics at the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
“The fire spread rapidly and was already well-established when fire crews arrived,” said a police spokesperson. “The house was a corner property in a row of four homes, and neighboring buildings sustained damage as well.”
Firefighters evacuated the adjacent home for safety and took necessary measures to control the fire. Emergency workers battled the blaze for nearly three hours, partly due to complications from a gas leak in the meter cupboard. The gas company, Enexis, was called to shut off the gas supply, and the fire was eventually contained.
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, though they have not yet confirmed any specific details. Police are seeking any witnesses or video footage that might shed light on the events leading up to the fire.
“The flames were intense and visible from all sides of the house,” said RTL reporter Janine de Vries, who spoke with eyewitnesses. “The fire consumed the house quickly, and the heat was felt even in neighboring buildings.”
The bodies of the three dogs were recovered and handed over to animal rescue services. The victims' identities have not been released, pending notification of family members.
As authorities continue their investigation, they are also looking into the damage to nearby homes, with one property showing significant harm. Some residents in the area were left temporarily without power while repairs were made to the gas and electrical systems.
