Huge fire engulfs Jysk furniture outlet and Pets Place shop in Limburg; A73 closed

Fire swept through the Jysk furniture chain's retail location in Horst, Limburg, on Thursday afternoon. The building on the Bremweg cannot be saved, and the flames have threatened two other companies, including a pet store a spokesperson for the Limburg-Noord Fire Department said.

There were no injuries reported, as customers and staff were able to get away from the fire in time. The fire soon spread to the adjacent building, which houses Pets Place. Although everyone who was in that building has been accounted for, the spokesperson could not say whether animals remained inside.

"Firefighters are now doing everything they can to save the pet shop. They are also trying to prevent the flames from spreading to a third, vacant building," a spokesperson told 1Limburg. The property has not been declared a total loss, according to ANP.

The fire was reported before 1:30 p.m., and the alarm was escalated to a major fire by 2:15 p.m. A Grip 1 local emergency was declared about 20 minutes later, initiating a protocol where all responding personnel organize under a single incident commander.

An NL Alert was issued to people in the region due to the significant amount of smoke that was released from the furniture store fire. Nearby residents were advised to close the windows and doors and to turn off their ventilation systems.

The A73 motorway was closed in both directions between Horst-Noord and Zaarderheiken as a precautionary measure, Rijkswaterstaat said. The billowing smoke clouds "drifting over the road" can be dangerous for drivers, the infrastructure agency said. Traffic was being detoured via the A50, the A2, or the A67.