Shop fires in Ghent and Deventer cause smoke inhalations and evacuations

In the early hours of Tuesday, a fire broke out in a kebab shop on Citadellaan in Ghent, Belgium. The blaze caused heavy smoke that filled the apartments above the premises, prompting the evacuation of residents. Ten people were taken to hospital for observation after inhaling smoke. Police said the fire was accidental, and the street was temporarily closed to traffic while firefighters extinguished the flames.

Later that same night in Deventer, Netherlands, torches were thrown through mailboxes into three shop units on Smedenstraat. Each shop has residences above it, and the resulting smoke forced the occupants to evacuate. While no one required hospital treatment, one family was examined by ambulance staff for smoke inhalation. The fire brigade responded with two fire trucks, a high‑reach vehicle, a water tanker and a fire‑fighting robot. Police are investigating the incidents as possible arson and have collected torch remnants for forensic analysis, though no arrests have been made.

Both incidents highlight the risks of smoke accumulation in mixed‑use buildings and have prompted local authorities to review safety measures.