2023-05-11 11:18:00
A nursing home was ravaged by a fire on Wednesday followingnoon, near Beloeil. The 54 residents were evacuated in emergency and, today, it is obviously necessary to relocate everyone. Some of these elderly people returned to their families, but the others were dispatched to 17 different reception structures. A complicated situation to manage…
An accidental fire broke out late Wednesday morning in a home for the elderly in the entity of Beloeil. Staff and residents were all evacuated. No injuries are reported.
The Wallonia Picardy emergency services were alerted on Wednesday, shortly following 10:00 a.m., that a fire had broken out in a home located at No. 46 rue d’Harchies in Granglise, in the entity of Beloeil. Coming from various barracks, three pumpers, three tank trucks, two ladder trucks, a Smur and two ambulances in prevention as well as several command vehicles were dispatched on the spot.
“When the first firefighters arrived, all the residents had left this nursing home. No one was missing. Around fifty elderly people were immediately transferred to the Stambruges (Beloeil) gymnasium. The fire broke out at the level of the roof of this building which consists of a ground floor and three floors. Shortly before noon, the roof was entirely ablaze but the fire was being extinguished. The causes are unknown for the moment of this firesays Captain Lahousse.
Residents are affected
This Thursday morning, Eliane came to pick up her things on site. She has been a resident there for 9 years. His family has decided to take him in for as long as necessary, but the situation is difficult to live with. “It’s hard for me, yes. It’s hard. At my age, at 90, it’s hard. Well, maybe it’ll be over quickly… For me to come back. We’ll see”she hopes.
A total of 54 residents had to be evacuated. They were distributed in 17 other structures. Fernande’s husband is a 30 minute drive away. “I came here every day, but I won’t go to Tournai every day, of course. It’s day by day. No one was injured, that’s what you have to think. He don’t complain”she says.
Arlette took her mom back into the family to avoid upsetting her. Now we have to get organized. “We are going to arrange with my sisters and my brother to accommodate her, so as not to disorient her a second time in another accommodation. It was really her who had made her choice to come here”explains the daughter of a resident.
This Thursday morning, the workers are busy collecting all the personal belongings of the residents. “We are all going to organize ourselves, form groups, go to the homes and hospitals where they are to be with them and also support them in the situation”informs Katty Deligne, caregiver.
Solutions
“We are wondering regarding us, staff, also since the home is no longer functional…”, says Jessica Bocquet, caregiver. Regarding the future of staff, several avenues are being considered. A meeting is scheduled for this followingnoon with the trade unions. “There is already some of the staff to whom we can offer solutions with the municipalityindicates Christian Vandeputte, president of the CPAS of Beloeil. And then, we will also repatriate the administrative staff to the Public Center for Social Action, in the offices. There are also other leads that are there, in particular staff who ask to be able to recover the accumulated hours, so we will take it one step at a time.
Regarding the building that caught fire, the damage is significant. It is uninhabitable. Despite everything, 23 of the 54 residents might quickly return to wing B, which suffered no damage. A brand new wing is also under construction, but it won’t be accessible until December.
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