Fire in former Ugchelen school building now under control
A large fire that broke out overnight in a former school building on Nijenbeek in Ugchelen is now under control, according to emergency services. The building, which had been vacant since late 2024, was completely filled with smoke, making it difficult for firefighters to locate and extinguish the flames, Omroep Gelderland reported.
Officials reported that the fire had multiple points of origin, prompting an investigation into the cause. The former primary school had served as an emergency shelter for asylum seekers until late 2024 but has been unoccupied since. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Firefighters responded to the initial report of a fire in the early hours of Sunday. Due to the severity of the situation, the fire was quickly escalated to a “large fire” status. Crews battled the blaze using three fire trucks, a high-rise platform, and two water tankers to ensure a sufficient water supply. Despite these challenges, by Sunday morning, the fire department declared the situation under control.
Fire crews ventilated the building to clear out the smoke. Authorities are now conducting further investigations into the cause of the fire and assessing the extent of the damage.
