Some last pictures of our smoking hot weekend in Antwerp in June

July 24, 2023

Some last pictures of our smoking hot weekend in Antwerp in June

While scrolling through my pictures I realise I've not shown everything yet about our weekend in Antwerp early June. While we mostly spent time in the Zoo and at the KMSKA, the hot weekend also required to rehydrate and refresh a bit with our friends.

We changed view across the street for dinner, and then all of a sudden Kabouter complained about some smoke out of the window above the terrace we were previously. At the same time, we notice a bad smell, and we see more people looking up.

While the first ones start pointing up, I walk on the street to dial 112 and call the fire department. Other people are on the phone, pointing and others go banging on the door while now a clear black smoke escapes through the open window. I tell them they surely now get a dozen calls about the same at the same moment, but they say no...no clue who else everybody is phoning on the other side of the road but ugh...always phone emergency services first! (OK the surrounding tables were excused as they signalled, and I signalled back that I was already on it).

So I return to our table to find Kabouter in a full panic attack full of tears about all worst case scenario's that was now going to happen in front of his eyes. Even the good scenario that we suggest, worries him because then I might have pranked the emergency services. We try to calm him, wait while listening for approaching sirens. Multiple fire trucks, the police department, ... arrive a few minutes later. The smoke in the meantime has not improved or worsened.

The deployment however doesn't seem stressed, they get access into the house pretty quick and seem to just air the windows quickly and get smoke evacuation tools ready. It doesn't take long when half of the deployed crew disappears again.

We finish our dinner and while the fire department has pulled out a smoking pile of cloth out of the house, we walk closer so Kabouter can ask if all is OK and check it was fine we phoned. We learn it was an inhabited flat in renovation, where apparently some of the material must have reacted in the heat and started to smolder (and more).

All reassured and now a little bit proud that we had helped prevent much worse, we continue our evening and walk through the city at sunset. I love the buildings in the evening sun.