Major fire in Tilburg student flat: residents temporarily displaced
Dozens of residents of a student flat on Professor Verbernelaan in Tilburg, near Tilburg University, had to flee their homes quickly last night when a fire broke out. No one was injured.

The fire started around 1:45 AM in an apartment on the top floor. The cause is still unknown. Most of the residents were in common areas when the fire broke out. About seventy students fled outside in pajamas or bathrobes, some with their pets in their arms.
Shortly after 2:00 AM, the fire department evacuated the entire building. After about an hour of firefighting, the fire was brought under control. The fire department managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other apartments in the complex. The students were taken to a nearby building for shelter.
Temporary housing is being arranged
Residents of the first, second, and third floors were able to safely return home in the early morning. However, this does not apply to everyone. At least 23 apartments are still uninhabitable due to smoke and soot damage, according to Veiligheidsregio Midden- en West-Brabant. Housing corporation WonenBreburg informed Omroep Brabant that alternative housing is being arranged for the students in need.

Fire Safety Tips
Fires in student housing occur “relatively often,” warns the fire department. To improve safety, they share some tips: don’t charge your mobile phone in bed, avoid blocking doors with beer crates, be cautious when frying, and regularly clean the dryer filter.
The landlord is responsible for smoke detectors and firefighting equipment. Additionally, the doors of escape routes should be easy to open. The fire department advises using doors with a turn handle or panic lock. A door that requires a key to open is an option, but in panic situations, keys are often misplaced.