One firefighter dead and three injured in Belgian prison fire
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A fire at the Lantin Prison in Liège, Belgium, was extinguished late Thursday night, May 29. The mayor of Juprelle, Christine Servaes, confirmed the incident, stating that one firefighter lost their life, while three others were seriously injured.
Details about the condition of the injured firefighters remained scarce on Friday, according to the Belgian news site HLN.
According to the site, the fire started in the central laundry area between the detention and prison sections. While staff and inmates were safely secured, evacuation outside the complex was not necessary. One of the injured firefighters was initially in critical condition but has since stabilized.
In response, the mayor declared a municipal emergency plan at 6:30 PM. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
According to the Belgian French language news site RTL the loss of the 39 year old firefighter has deeply affected his colleagues and the firefighting community in Belgium.
Tributes poured in, with Brussels firefighters expressing solidarity and offering condolences to his family and fellow responders. King Philippe also personally reached out to the fire brigade to show his support.
Government officials, including Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, visited the site on Friday.
Minister Verlinden emphasized the need to support both the injured firefighters and prison staff, acknowledging the challenging conditions under which they work.
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Photo from August 7, 2017
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