Marc Coucke’s Le Sanglier des Ardennes was severely damaged after the serious fire in Waygu, Wout Bru’s restaurant located in the five-star hotel. Drone images show how part of the roof was destroyed by the flames. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but it is likely that the extraction system on the roof caught fire.
The serious fire started around 7 p.m. and quickly set the attic of the Waygu restaurant on fire. When the fire brigade arrived after more than half an hour, flames were already shooting out of the roof, witnesses said. “Really terrible,” said Wout Bru, who quickly jumped into his car and drove to Durbuy when he was informed. “Those guys (the fire brigade, ed.) are doing their best, but Durbuy is simply not next to a big city, of course.” (Read more below Wout Bru’s response)
Marc Coucke coordinated the evacuation of the hotel and restaurant as best as possible from his home base in Merelbeke. According to police commissioner Didier Lambert, 35 people had to be evacuated from the hotel and all restaurant guests also left in time. There were no injuries, the hotel guests were given shelter in nearby hotels. Security officers were called in and instructed to guard Le Sanglier des Ardennes at night.
READ ALSO. Chef Wout Bru and Marc Coucke respond to fire in five-star hotel: “In no time the attic was on fire”
It remains to be seen how much damage there is to the hotel. The older part of the five-star hotel would have been unaffected, but the roof and top floor of the new part were particularly affected. It is also not yet clear how badly the restaurant was damaged. The fire brigade had to “dismantle many elements” to reach the fire and in addition to the damage caused by the fire, there is also water damage. Coucke remains optimistic and is doing “everything he can to get back there as quickly as possible”.
