Thatched Roof House on Jockeystraat in Ghent Destroyed by Fire; Roof Collapses

Ghent (Eurotoday): A fire broke out in a thatched-roof house on Jockeystraat, Ghent, causing the roof to collapse. Firefighters are on-site until midnight to extinguish remaining flames and prevent re-ignition. The cause is unknown.

On 27 November a fire broke out in the afternoon in a house with a thatched roof on Jockeystraat in the Sterre area of Ghent. The fire brigade responded quickly but had difficulties because of the roof’s material. The entire roof collapsed during the fire. Firefighters were able to control the fire, but the damage to the house was severe.

What measures are being taken to extinguish the thatched roof fire on Jockeystraat?

The fire department is working to stop the flames from the thatched roof fire. They are carefully taking apart each piece of the collapsed roof to prevent any smoldering spots from reigniting. This process is expected to keep firefighters on-site until at least midnight, as they aim to eliminate all hot spots while minimizing further damage to the property.

The fire closed the Kortrijksesteenweg at Jockeystraat in both directions for a while. The police said the heavy smoke was too dangerous for traffic, and firefighters needed space to work. The lane toward Deinze and Oudenaarde is now open for vehicles, and cyclists can use the road both ways. However, the lane toward the city center remains closed for firefighting efforts. The cause of the fire is still unknown.