Urk's old fire station destroyed in overnight blaze; Arson suspected

A large fire broke out in the abandoned fire station on De Noord in Urk late Friday night, destroying the building entirely. The blaze began around 1:00 a.m. and was brought under control by 2:30 a.m. local time. No injuries were reported, as the building had been vacant and was undergoing demolition at the time, NOS reports.

The fire emitted a substantial amount of smoke, prompting local authorities to advise residents to keep their windows and doors closed to minimize exposure. The smoke also triggered warnings to shut off mechanical ventilation systems, where applicable. As the fire raged, sparks from the blaze spread toward nearby parts of De Noord, and burnt insulation debris landed in gardens, streets, and on parked cars, causing paint damage to some vehicles.

Local residents reported hearing a loud bang around 12:30 a.m. before seeing smoke coming from the building. One nearby resident called the fire department but noted that the station was already beyond saving by the time help arrived. Although he has no proof, the caller speculated that arson was likely. Earlier that afternoon, witnesses had reported seeing young people around the derelict building, which was being cleared for demolition.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A spokesperson from the fire department confirmed that rumors suggested the fire may have been deliberately started. Police are looking into these claims as part of their investigation but have yet to draw any conclusions.

The fire station had been vacant since November 2023, when the Urk fire department relocated to a new facility on Industrierondweg. The old building, which had been partially demolished, was slated for redevelopment into a residential complex with 24 apartments. As of now, no hazardous materials or asbestos were found in the building, according to fire department officials.