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A major fire broke out this Tuesday evening around 8:30 p.m. at the
castle of Dongelberg, in the commune of Jodoigne, in Walloon
Brabant. The firefighters fought long hours against the flames. The
emergency plan was not lifted until around 2:30 a.m. that night.
22
vehicles, 65 firefighters were
mobilized in the evening and part of the night, to overcome the
flames, fanned by the wind. A
major deployment that was not enough to preserve the building. The
castle which dates from the 19th century is badly damaged. The walls
are still standing but their stability is uncertain. A precise
evaluation could be carried out this morning by experts.
The
mayor went to the castle as soon as he learned the news, while the
municipal council was held, told the mayor Jean-Luc Meurice (UC) to
RTBF. For
the moment we do not know the cause of the fire but the firefighters
would prefer an accidental runway. No
casualties are
to be deplored.
National
route 222 has been closed to traffic. The
castle grounds remain inaccessible for security reasons. A risk of
collapse is possible, according to the authorities. The latter asked
last night ow "residents
to stay in their homes not to hinder the work of the emergency
services." There
was the risk of a water shortage shortage in the village early in the
night. In the end, the civil
protection provided the firefighters with missing water.
Dongelberg
Castle is currently not occupied. Recently bought, it was the subject
of a renovation project in a seminar center. The works had just
started. The owner who wants to remain discreet during these difficult
times indicates this morning that his intention is to maintain the
project, despite the fire.
The
building was put up for sale in January 2019. The castle covers 3000
square meters and is built on an eleven hectare site. Its construction
dates back to the 14th century but its appearance as we know it today in
the 1830s. " After
having taken in sick children during the First World War, the building
was bought by the ONE who made it one accommodation center and
completely transformed its interior to make it more functional, " RTBF
said at the time of the sale . "Acquired
in the 1970s by an ASBL close to Opus Dei, which converted the area into
a seminar center, the main building has never been refurbished and has
slowly deteriorated. It is undoubtedly the amount of the tax on
unoccupied buildings claimed by the commune which pushes the current
owner to put the castle today on sale, while he continues his activities
in other buildings of the field. Amateurs have already expressed
interest in this property, which is included in the sector plan as a
'community equipment zone'. "
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