Fire in distribution center is getting bigger: ‘We’re doing everything we can’

The fire broke out at half past five on Friday morning. On Friday evening, the fire brigade was still unable to get the fire under control. The fire continued to grow during the evening.

A spokesperson for the Brabant-Noord Safety Region does not dare to say how quickly the sea of ​​fire can be controlled. But it is clear that not much progress is being made yet. “It’s not working out the way we would like to see.”

The fire brigade is present at the company in Oss with various fire brigades. They try with all their might to put out the fire, but cannot do so from within. The fire is in the company’s cold rooms, which are not accessible due to the frozen surface. “We can only extinguish the fire from outside. That is much less effective,” says the spokesperson. Parts of the building are also on the verge of collapse, meaning firefighters cannot extinguish the fire at close range.

The fire brigade now hopes that the fire can be stopped by installing stop lines. “Then you make a separation at places, for example where a building ends. There you try to extinguish the fires with water cannons to prevent the fire from spreading.” The flames are said to be about to spread to an adjacent business premises.

Residents of Vechtstraat and IJsselstraat cannot spend the night at home due to the smoke. They will see if they can go to family or friends. If that doesn’t work, they get help from the municipality of Oss to find a hotel or other place. Farmers have been asked not to put their livestock outside next night due to the smoke.

NL-Alert
The smoke spreads throughout the area and can be seen from the A59, in Heesch and even Nijmegen. At the beginning of the evening, an NL Alert was sent to local residents.

According to the safety region, no harmful substances were released during the fire. However, many particles from burned solar panels have blown into the environment. These are not dangerous in themselves, but can be sharp.