A fire at a Delhaize supermarket in Arbre Ballon has forced the store to close its doors during the crucial holiday shopping period. The Wednesday blaze, though extinguished by fire crews, caused critically important smoke and water damage, raising concerns about potential job losses for local employees.this incident follows a separate,smaller fire earlier the same day at an Albert heijn location in Wemmel,prompting authorities to investigate any possible links between the two events.
A fire broke out at a Delhaize supermarket in Arbre Ballon on Wednesday, forcing the store to close its doors during the holiday season. While the blaze was fully extinguished by firefighters, the store sustained significant smoke damage and inventory loss, potentially leading to temporary unemployment for staff.
The store’s automatic sprinkler system activated and functioned as intended, containing the fire before firefighters arrived to complete the extinguishment and ventilate the building, according to reports. The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident. However, the Delhaize team announced on social media that they would be unable to serve customers during the holidays. The store has also requested that anyone with information regarding the fire contact authorities.
This incident comes after a separate, smaller fire involving trash cans occurred at an Albert Heijn store on Chaussée Romaine in Wemmel around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities have not yet confirmed any connection between the two fires.
The closure of the Delhaize store represents a significant economic setback for the independent operator, with a large portion of merchandise deemed unsalvageable. The potential for employee furloughs underscores the impact of the fire on the local workforce.
