A significant fire broke out this evening in a warehouse in the Frisian village of Ee, belonging to a company supplying agricultural machinery. Several tractors were stored inside.
The fire started in the dashboard of one of the tractors. Omrop Fryslân reported that some individuals initially refused to leave the building but eventually exited.
Two individuals inhaled smoke and were treated on-site by ambulance personnel. Residents received an NL-Alert advising them to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area.
At 9:45 PM, a new NL-Alert indicated the fire was under control. A regional safety spokesperson stated that about half of the warehouse was damaged.
An acetylene cylinder, an explosive substance used in welding, was inside the warehouse. Initially, it was cooled with extinguishing water.
Efforts are now underway to create an opening in the warehouse with a crane to remove the cylinder. The plan is to place the cylinder in a nearby ditch, which is expected to take several hours.
Solar panel fragments from the roof landed around the warehouse. The public is advised to clear any shards found in their gardens or on streets using thick gloves due to their sharpness.
Source: NOS