Sixteen residents of the Hoogeveldt student complex will need to find temporary accommodation. Last night, a fire broke out in the communal kitchen of their hallway. Due to smoke damage, their rooms are currently uninhabitable.

The hallway in Hoogeveldt, located on Professor Bromstraat, will be uninhabitable for approximately three weeks, according to a spokesperson from the student housing provider SSH&. ‘The fire damage is limited to the kitchen because the fire brigade responded quickly. However, there is soot and smoke damage in the common areas and rooms, rendering the hallway (where sixteen students live) currently uninhabitable.’

The fire broke out on Wednesday evening just after 22:00 while cooking, after a pan caught fire. With two fire trucks and a cherry picker, the fire brigade quickly controlled the flames. Several rooms were evacuated. No one was injured in the incident, but the residents were understandably shaken up, according to the SSH& spokesperson.

Emptying the hallway

Most students were able to return to their homes the same evening after the building was ventilated. The sixteen residents of the affected hallway found shelter with friends or family that night. They will not be able to sleep in their own rooms for the foreseeable future. ‘We are currently in contact with the tenants regarding alternative housing, if necessary,’ says the spokesperson.

SSH& aims to make the rooms habitable again as soon as possible. ‘For that to happen, the hallway must first be completely emptied. There is a storage container in front of the complex so that students can temporarily store their furniture. We also provide cleaning supplies and moving boxes. Once the area is empty, we will start repairing the damage.’

At the beginning of last year, SSH& announced a stricter stance on clutter and waste in Hoogeveldt due to fire safety concerns. Students often left unnecessary items and clothes racks in the hallway, posing potential dangers in the event of a fire. The Safety Region Gelderland-Zuid, under which the Nijmegen fire brigade operates, had also previously warned of fire hazards in student houses.

Translated by Siri Joustra