This total is higher than for the whole of 2023, indicated Friday the ASBL Oscare, the monitoring and research center for people suffering from burns and scars. The association therefore underlines the importance of audible smoke detectors, for which you should not wait for an obligation to use them.
According to figures collected by Oscare, 32 people died this year in Flanders, compared to 27 in 2023. In Brussels, there were 5 fatal victims in 2024, compared to 4 last year. In Wallonia, there have been 27 deaths recorded so far, where there had been 32 in 2023.
“People still don't realize the importance of having sufficiently audible smoke detectors. Smoke detectors will become compulsory in 2025 in Brussels, but why are people still waiting for an obligation to install them in their house/apartment? asks Peter Van Rossum, fire prevention specialist at the ASBL. These devices are crucial for responding quickly in the event of a fire, he insists.
However, the regulations concerning smoke detectors vary in Belgium from one Region to another, while a fire in Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia can cause just as much damage and lead to fatalities.
In Flanders, each home must have at least 1 smoke detector per floor. In Wallonia, there must be one per floor, but if this floor is more than 80 square meters, then two are needed. From four smoke detectors, these must be interconnected.
In Brussels, there is currently only an obligation for rental accommodation, and a smoke detector must be installed in each room on the escape route from the bedroom to the outside. From January 1, 2025, smoke detectors will become mandatory.
Faced with these disparities, Oscare calls for a national approach to fire prevention, in order to raise awareness of the dangers of fire.
