Fire: stay away from smoke

Fires can happen at any time, whether due to a domestic accident, a building fire or an industrial blaze. Whatever the situation, the danger is not limited to flames. Smoke poses a direct threat to health and safety.

Smoke is always toxic

All fires release harmful substances, regardless of their origin. Irritant gases, fine particles and chemicals combine in the air and can cause breathing difficulties, irritation and even serious poisoning.

What to do when you are near a fire: 

• move away from the area immediately
• allow access so that the emergency services to act quickly
• if smoke is coming towards you, change direction to avoid breathing it
• close doors and windows to prevent smoke from entering your home
• turn off ventilation, air-conditioning and any systems that bring in air from outside
• follow the official recommendations of the authorities (municipality, SIAMU, etc.)

How to find out what to do

Near the fire, firefighters and police will provide the initial instructions. The media will also keep you informed via radio, TV or news websites. 

Mayors or the Governor can also use the BE-Alert system for crisis management. This system alerts the population by text, voice messages or emails in the event of serious danger. However, it is not used for all fires. 

The use of BE-Alert depends on the scale of the fire, the smoke density, the affected area and the risk to the public. In many cases, the simple measures listed above are enough to protect the people of Brussels. The authorities reserve the right to issue an alert in emergencies where the health or safety of a large part of the population is directly threatened and sheltering or evacuation is required.
For the sake of completeness, in the Brussels-Capital Region, safe.brussels can also broadcast messages onto the digital panels of STIB and Brussels Mobility.

Thanks to these different yet complementary channels, we aim to inform you as quickly and directly as possible, through the most appropriate means, of the recommendations to follow depending on the danger.

Summary

When faced with a fire, remember one simple rule to protect your health and that of your loved ones: stay away from smoke.

More info -> https://centredecrise.be/sites/default/files/documents/files/2021-03/brochure_restez_hors_de_toute_fumee_fr_web.pdf