A major fire which broke out on Wednesday night at the airport at Bierset by Liege has caused significant material damage, but flights have resumed this morning, airport authorities said. No-one was injured in the blaze.
The fire is now under control after a brief flare-up in the early morning, and flights have resumed.
The fire broke out around 2330 on Wednesday evening in an empty building between the passenger terminal and the refuelling area. The fire caused a great deal of smoke, the cloud visible from afar in the surrounding area. Manuel Dony, mayor of the local commune Grace-Hollogne, said the smoke was no danger to local residents. A nearby hotel was not required to evacuate.
Flights were suspended for a time after the fire was discovered, with some incoming flights redirected. Traffic resumed shortly after. Liege is mainly served by freight carriers including TNT and Federal Express. In recent months it has become the central hub for the delivery to Belgium of materials related to the coronavirus epidemic.
There were no casualties, but the material damage is significant, said the airport’s communications manager Christian Delcourt. The airport is expected to give a fuller report later today.
The cause of the fire is not known.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
