Ganshoren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The ACV union warns of Brussels Fire Service staff shortages after an 18-hour Ganshoren warehouse fire. Steven Gillesen highlights operational risks; Ans Persoons confirms new recruitment and talks with unions.
As VRT News reported, the ACV union has raised serious concerns about staff shortages at the Brussels Fire and Emergency Medical Service (DBDMH) after an 18-hour Ganshoren warehouse fire in the Brussels Capital Region, Belgium.
“Without the help of fire departments outside Brussels, the Brussels fire department might not have been able to contain the fire. The fire might have raged for hours longer, or even days,”
says Steven Gillesen of the ACV (Civil Service).
How are staff shortages affecting Brussels fire service operations?
Gillesen of the AC union said the fire department has been understaffed for years, worsened by a sharp increase in workload over the past 20 years.
“Since 2012, staffing plans have been drawn up based on budgetary guidelines from the Brussels government, without considering actual needs on the ground. As a result, the fire department’s workforce has grown by barely 16.78% over the past 20 years, while the workload has increased exponentially,”
he says.
Officials mentioned that the shortage is felt on the ground, with crews forced to choose between sending an ambulance or a fire truck. Gillesen, a representative of the ACV union, has warned Brussels politicians about serious risks caused by staff shortages at the city’s fire department.
The warning comes as Brussels political parties negotiate a new budget agreement. Informal discussions suggest that all institutions will face budget cuts. The fire department will be protected, but no extra funding will be provided to address growing workloads and chronic staff shortages.
According to the responsible Brussels State Secretary, Ans Persoons (Vooruit.brussels), the Brussels government recognises that
“the force is under pressure and interventions are increasing.”
“Their work is essential, and Brussels is challenging. That’s precisely why, at my request, a new recruitment pool has just been opened to maintain staffing levels. In recent years, significant investments have been made in infrastructure and equipment to meet these challenges.”
Gillesen added that the union has
“explored all necessary avenues”
to solve the problem but warned that further action may be unavoidable if no solution is found. Persoons, another union representative, said talks are planned with the fire department unions to discuss working conditions. Recent figures show that 48 firefighters have been trained and joined the force each year over the past 2 years.
The operational core is also at full capacity, it says.
“In addition, half of the vehicle fleet has been replaced, and two new fire brigade outposts are in
Comments
17 responses to “Ganshoren Warehouse Fire Highlights Brussels Fire Staff Shortages”
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Typical, isn’t it? We wait for a fire to turn into a bonfire before realizing that maybe, just maybe, we should hire a few extra hands. 🔥🙈
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Just splendid, isn’t it? A raging fire for 18 hours, and we still can’t seem to find enough brave souls to put it out. Maybe we should just send for a few extra hands from the circus next door! 🔥🤡
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Seems like the Brussels fire crew is playing a thrilling game of “who gets to show up to work today?” 🔥 Maybe they should consider hiring a few more heroes before the next blaze turns into a citywide bonfire. 🤷♂️
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Just brilliant, isn’t it? The fire department’s solution to being understaffed is to play a never-ending game of “pick-a-truck” while the flames do a little jig in the background. 🔥🚒
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Isn’t it fantastic how a blazing warehouse can ignite a conversation about staffing? Makes you wonder if they’re just waiting for the next fire to really beef up the recruitment ads! 🔥🚒
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Brussels firefighting: where you need to bring your own bucket, because apparently staff shortages make extinguishing fires a bit too ambitious 😅. I suppose they’re just trying to keep things *lit*! 🔥
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Brilliant! Who needs a full fire brigade when we can just outsource our flames to neighboring towns? At this rate, we might as well start a fire-fighting holiday exchange program. 🔥😏
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Honestly, who needs a fully-staffed fire service when you can just throw a little water on a problem and hope for the best? At this rate, we might as well start recruiting from the local pub! 🍻🔥
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Seems like the fire department’s motto is “let it burn” with staffing levels that make a skeleton crew look like a full-on parade. But hey, at least we can count on the budget cuts to keep the flames nice and cozy! 🔥💸
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Seems like the Brussels Fire Department is playing a thrilling game of “Who Can Put Out the Fire with Fewer Hands?” 🚒🔥 Just what every city needs – a lack of firefighters during a flaming warehouse party! 🔥🍻
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Seems like the Brussels Fire Service is playing a thrilling game of ‘hot potato’ with staffing levels – who needs firefighters when you’ve got a solid team of volunteers from outside the city? 🔥😂
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Seems like the Brussels Fire Service is playing a thrilling game of “how long can we hold out?” while the budget cuts keep coming. Who knew fighting fires was also a lesson in endurance? 🔥🚒
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Typical Brussels, eh? Just when you think they’ve managed to extinguish a fire, turns out they’ve been playing musical chairs with the fire staff instead! 🔥🚒
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Seems like the Brussels Fire Service is playing an intense game of “who can respond the slowest” – must be a new team-building exercise to spice up the 18-hour marathon at Ganshoren! 🔥🚒
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Seems like the Brussels Fire Service is playing a thrilling game of “guess who can put out the fire first” with half of their crew missing. Just what you need in a city known for its flames—more fires and “creative” staffing solutions! 🔥🤣
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Looks like Brussels is really on fire—literally! 🔥 With more work than staff, perhaps we should send in a few interns to help douse the flames? 🤷♂️
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Seems like the Brussels fire department is basically playing a game of ‘guess who’ with their staff—who’s available today? 🕵️♂️ Maybe they should just start recruiting from the local cafés; I hear their espresso is strong enough to fuel a fire truck! ☕️🔥
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