Video: Arnhem city center closed as fire rages through homes and stores
A massive fire is raging in the center of Arnhem. The fire broke out at around 3:45 a.m. at a SoLow shop on Jansstraat and quickly spread to other historic shops. At least ten buildings are on fire, and the blaze is not yet under control, a spokesperson for the fire brigade told NOS shortly after 7:00 a.m. The city center is cordoned off.
The fire is raging in buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, with shops on the ground floor and homes above. “Between eight and ten shops and a block of flats can be considered lost,” René Bierman of the Veiligheidsregio Gelderland Middden told Omroep Gelderland.
The fire brigade and police are working “with all their might” to get residents evacuated from the area. So far, no victims have been reported, but firefighters haven’t been able to search the inside of the buildings yet due to the intensity of the blaze. Because these old buildings are made of wood, the fire spread very quickly and is burning intensely.
Around 150 firefighters are at the scene fighting the blaze and keeping surrounding buildings wet to prevent it from spreading further. The authorities have cordoned off the entire historic city center. “And that will certainly last the whole day,” a fire brigade spokesperson told NOS.
The spokesperson said that asbestos was likely being released by the blaze. An NL-Alert was sent for Arnhem, warning locals to keep windows, doors, and ventilation closed.
The municipality opened the town hall to take in evacuated residents. According to AD, around 50 people have taken shelter there.
