Video: Massive fire destroys Ermelo dessert company; Smoke triggers NL-Alert
A massive fire completely destroyed Edough, a dessert and patisserie company at the Mariënhoef industrial estate in Ermelo, early Saturday. The fire broke out overnight Friday to Saturday, with the first emergency call received at 1:53 a.m. and initial reports indicating it started around 1:30 a.m.
Heavy smoke from the blaze triggered an NL-Alert for residents in northern Ermelo and nearly all of Harderwijk, with officials urging people to keep windows and doors closed and turn off ventilation systems.
The blaze quickly grew into a very large fire with heavy smoke. Firefighters from multiple departments responded with several vehicles and escalated to a “large fire” response.
Crews first tried to fight the flames from inside the building. Intense heat buildup soon forced them to switch to fighting the fire from outside.
Around 2:10 a.m., thick smoke poured from the structure. After an internal check, crews located the main fire source at 2:19 a.m. and partially resumed interior operations.
The response included three fire engines, an aerial ladder truck and several vehicles for water transport and support. Two firefighters were examined on scene by ambulance crews for heat stress. No serious injuries were reported.
At 4:45 a.m., the fire flared up again and fully engulfed the building. Crews brought in extra resources to prevent it from spreading.
Officials later decided to let the building burn out under controlled conditions. The move protected emergency personnel and limited further risks. The company’s building was completely destroyed.
The NL-Alert covered northern Ermelo and almost all of Harderwijk. Residents experiencing smoke or smoke odor were told to keep windows and doors closed and shut off building ventilation. Smoke from the fire may affect traffic on the A28 highway, but authorities said there was no need to close the road.
