Video: Fire destroys Lelystad swingers club days after municipality bought property
A major fire destroyed a swingers club in Lelystad early Thursday after flames that started in a separate structure on the property spread to the main structure, forcing firefighters to let the building burn under control, Omroep Flevoland reports.
Records show the fire was called in at 5:40 a.m., and the alarm was escalated to a major fire 20 minutes later. Firefighters quickly declared a major incident and determined the building could no longer be saved. Crews focused on stopping the flames from spreading.
Firefighters said the building is considered a possible asbestos risk. Although it was unclear whether asbestos was actually present, crews followed protocols used for fires involving the material. A bicycle path along Zuigerplasdreef was closed because of the possibility that asbestos particles could fall there.
The municipality had recently purchased the property for 4 million euros as part of plans for housing construction in the area. According to the municipality, a housing development and a sex club were not considered a suitable combination, and the purchase was intended to make way for the club's departure. According to the club's website, the venue had been closed since June 1.
Firefighters from Lelystad, supported by a large water transport unit and teams from Swifterbant, Dronten, and Ens, responded to the scene. In the meantime, gas cylinders inside the building reportedly exploded several times. No injuries were reported.
Limited water supplies prompted firefighters to scale up the response. Initial firefighting water came from fire engines, but additional supplies were needed. A hydrant near the former SGL school building provided insufficient pressure, leading authorities to deploy a large water transport system that pumped water from a nearby fishing pond.
Smoke from the fire was visible over a wide area, but a fire service spokesperson said calm winds caused the plume to rise vertically, making nuisance from the smoke unlikely.
