Some of the residents of the Leyhoeve residential care center in Tilburg are allowed to return home. For a long time it was unclear where residents could spend the night from Saturday to Sunday due to a very large fire. Many residents of self-contained apartments have to sleep somewhere else tonight.
On Saturday afternoon, a very large fire broke out in the Leyhoeve residential care center around five o’clock. Many elderly people live in the complex, some of whom are independent and others who require assistance. The fire started in a meter cupboard on the second floor. A pipe also broke, causing water damage.
The emergency services quickly switched to GRIP 1. This is done when an incident requires coordination between multiple emergency services, such as the fire brigade, ambulance and police. About two hundred residents had to be evacuated immediately. They were accommodated in the nearby Van der Valk Hotel.
Smoke inhalation
Four victims suffered smoke inhalation and had to be taken to hospital. As far as we know, no more people were injured.
Around seven o’clock the Safety Region reported that the fire was under control. In the end the fire wasn’t too bad, but it caused a lot of smoke. The emergency services started checking all rooms to check which homes were safe enough.
Sleep somewhere else
Many sheltered residents were picked up at the hotel by family and friends. Some of the residents were allowed to return home on Saturday evening. The group of residents that need structural care can also largely return.
Residents of many self-contained apartments have to sleep somewhere else tonight. Emergency services and the municipality ‘think along’ to see where that will be.