Stekene – On August 11th, 2025, at 8:30 AM, a truck carrying 20 tons of scrap metal caught fire on the E34 near Stekene. Firefighters, led by Chief Thierry Van Goethem, employed a crane and a ladder truck to bring the blaze under control, reports 24brussels.
According to VRT News, the incident occurred early in the morning, prompting nearby drivers to alert the truck operator. Thanks to their warnings, the driver managed to pull over safely and detach the tractor from the trailer, averting a potential disaster.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and firefighters encountered challenges in extinguishing it using conventional methods. They had to access the roof of the vehicle to combat the flames, as initial attempts proved ineffective. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Response and Ongoing Fire Suppression Efforts
Traffic on the E34 towards Antwerp was restricted to one lane due to the fire, with the lane closure expected to continue throughout the morning. Waasland fire district zone commander Thierry Van Goethem indicated that further efforts are necessary to control the fire completely, citing complexities with the heavy load involved.
A crane and additional equipment are required to assist in the removal of the scrap metal, which is preventing full access to the fire. Once the fire is extinguished, the scrap will be transferred to another truck for safe disposal from the highway.
This fire is reminiscent of a previous incident last year when a truck carrying construction waste ignited on a nearby highway, leading to lane closures and significant traffic delays as firefighters struggled to manage the packed materials.