Man found dead after Amsterdam apartment fire took his own life; 17 homes uinhabitable

The man found dead after a fire in an apartment building in Amsterdam-West on Monday took his own life. The fire started in the man’s home, a police spokesperson told NH Nieuws. Five people got hurt in the blaze. Of the 127 apartments in the building, 17 are still uninhabitable.

It is unclear whether the deceased man started the fire himself or whether the fire started accidentally after he died. A police spokesperson previously said the man had set the fire, but the police later said that the cause of the fire is still unclear.

The fire broke out at around 7:00 p.m. on Monday in a third-floor apartment. The Amsterdam fire brigade responded to Harry Koningsbergerstraat in large numbers. The fire brigades from Kennemerland and Zaanstreek-Waterland regions also deployed units to assist.

First responders evacuated all the apartments in the building. Four people, including two firefighters, were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. A third firefighter had to go to the hospital with symptoms of heat exhaustion. A spokesperson for Veiligheidsregio Amsterdam-Amstelland told AT5 that the firefighter was doing well under the circumstances.

The city district is working with the residents of the 17 uninhabitable apartments to figure out where to house them for the time being. “Together with the residents of the 17 apartments, we have explored shelter options, such as staying with family or friends, or temporary housing in a hotel,” a spokesperson told NH Nieuws. “The homeowners’ association and the insurer are supporting them in this. Support agencies are working with two residents who were subtenants and are uninsured to find a suitable solution.”