The fire in an apartment on Offenbachlaan in Eindhoven was not the first. This is what local residents say who were startled early on Tuesday morning by fire on the ground floor of the complex.
The 58-year-old resident of the apartment was arrested by the police. He is suspected of starting the fire in his apartment himself.
The fire only raged on the ground floor, but the smoke also caused problems on other floors. Three adults and two children were taken from the building.
“He said he went to the store to get some rolling tobacco.”
Local resident Mieke Langenhuysen heard the fire brigade very close to her house on Tuesday morning. When she looked outside, she saw smoke coming from the apartment. Her 58-year-old neighbor sat on the sidewalk in front of the building. “He said he went to the store to get a roll-up, but I don’t believe that.”
She has lived in the area for 65 years. “He has had a fire before, but then it was small. Not the whole apartment,” says Langenhuysen. “I think he drinks quite a lot. When I saw him sitting on the doorstep in the morning I immediately thought: damn, what have you done?”
“He’s not a nasty guy, but he’s not really friendly either.”
Other local residents are also very shocked. Lukas Jurgutis lives on the third floor and had just woken up when the doorbell rang unexpectedly. “No one was at the door, but I did see a lot of smoke. You couldn’t see a meter away.”
He has only lived in the building for a few months, but does not feel comfortable because of his 58-year-old neighbor downstairs. “He’s not a nasty man, but he’s not really friendly either,” says Juurgutis. “It stinks every time his front door opens. You can smell it even on the third floor.”
“He is confused and often does strange things. It is urgent that he receives good guidance.”
Daria Zabczynska is also very shocked by the fire, although it was not the first time. “I have lived here for ten years. I think it is common knowledge that this neighbor is drug addicted. He is confused and often does strange things. It is very necessary that he receives good guidance.”
The housing association could not be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
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