New fire station in Sint-Eloois-Vijve officially opened

The complex is the fourth new one in the barracks plan of the Fluvia zone after those in Menen, Marke-Lauwe and Deerlijk-Anzegem. The evolution of the plan is being closely monitored in Brussels. Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden thinks it is a good example for other zones that have limited public resources. The complex in Sint-Eloois-Vijve has room for a new vehicle hall and fitness room, new changing rooms, classrooms and a laundry for 600 firefighters.

Fewer barracks, no increase in scale

Waregem is a new step in the barracks plan. Kortrijk-Zwevegem, Evolis, Welvelgem and Kuurne-Harelbeke will follow later. Fluvia will therefore have fewer barracks than the 17 that the zone had. Yet this is not about scaling up. “I don’t think that scaling up the emergency response zones in itself should be an ambition. What we do do is work on the status of volunteers. They must be properly trained. That takes time because they must be able to manage challenging risks,” explains Annelies Verlinden.

Collaboration needed

People from different fire stations also come together in the new barracks. Chairman of the Fluvia emergency response zone, Francis Benoit, finds the merger of the posts a major challenge, because each has its own culture: “It’s about collaboration. About people.”

The new barracks will cost around 5 million euros.