Video: Person dies in Tilburg house fire
A person died Saturday morning in a house fire on Leharstraat in Tilburg, authorities said. A neighbor was treated for smoke inhalation, Brabants Dagblad reports.
The fire was reported around 11:10 a.m. in the Heikant neighborhood. Firefighters arrived with two engines and an aerial ladder. The fire was contained by approximately 12:20 p.m.
Firefighters found the occupant inside the house. The person had suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The area has been cordoned off, and authorities are also working to confirm the person's identity.
Some neighbors reported hearing a loud bang, which they suspect may have been an explosion. A police spokesperson said, “That is indeed one of the things being investigated. Whether it actually happened, we do not yet know. If there was an explosion, that does not necessarily mean it caused the fire. The fire could also have caused the explosion.”
A female neighbor was exposed to smoke while at the scene and received medical attention. She told reporters from Brabants Dagblad, “I knocked on the door, but got no response.”
The Veiligheidsregio Midden- en West-Brabant advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed if they notice smoke in the area. Early reports incorrectly placed the fire on Strausslaan; it occurred just around the corner on Leharstraat.
