Etterbeek brasserie was evacuated after a kitchen and chimney fire
Updated 25 June 2026, 12:00 UTC. On Thursday 11 June 2026, on Place Jourdan in Etterbeek, a brasserie was evacuated after a fire linked to the kitchen and chimney area, according to La Libre and VRT NWS. VRT NWS reported that three staff members were affected by smoke. The Brussels fire service, cited by Belgian media, brought the incident under control and the immediate public-safety issue was evacuation and smoke exposure, not a wider neighbourhood emergency.
For customers, staff and nearby businesses, the key point is practical: smoke from a kitchen or chimney fire spreads quickly inside a hospitality venue, so evacuation is the first safety measure. For horeca operators, the incident underlines the daily importance of accessible exits, maintained extinguishers, clean extraction systems and clear staff procedures.
The subject is a local Brussels fire incident at a horeca business on Place Jourdan, one of Etterbeek's busiest squares. La Libre described the case as a brasserie d'Etterbeek evacuee apres feu de cuisine et de cheminee, while VRT NWS framed it in Dutch as a brand in brasserie op Jourdanplein in Etterbeek with personeelsleden bevangen rook. The relevant public authority context is the Brussels fire service, SIAMU/DBDMH, which covers the 19 Brussels municipalities and handles fire response and urgent medical assistance in the region.
Background
Brussels fire-safety rules for public venues sit within a long Belgian prevention framework shaped by major urban fires and by the practical demands of dense mixed-use buildings. The Brussels Region notes that fire prevention combines federal basic standards with sectoral, regional and municipal rules.
Impact
Regional — The impact was local to Etterbeek and Place Jourdan. The square is a dense hospitality and residential area, so even a contained brasserie fire disrupts customers, staff, neighbouring terraces and passers-by.
Opposing perspectives
- Horeca operators and staff
Restaurant and cafe operators focus on keeping kitchens running while meeting fire-safety duties that require equipment checks, clear exits and maintained extraction systems. For staff, the immediate concern in this case was evacuation and avoiding smoke exposure during service.
- Fire-safety authorities and evacuees
The Brussels fire service and evacuees prioritise rapid exit, smoke control and access for emergency crews. Their perspective is stricter because a small kitchen or chimney fire can spread through ducts or produce smoke before flames are visible to customers.