Massive Fire at Zoetermeer Scrapyard Sends Four to Hospital
Four people sustained smoke inhalation injuries and emergency services deployed a GRIP 1 coordination phase after a fierce fire erupted at a scrapyard along the Bleiswijkseweg in Zoetermeer on Sunday morning. The blaze, which broke out around 06:50, consumed a large pile of approximately one hundred scrapped vehicles and generated massive plumes of dense smoke across the region.
Emergency response teams from across the wider area rushed to the scene as shifting winds drove the thick smoke over an expanding residential zone. Authorities issued an emergency NL-Alert instructing nearby residents to keep their doors and windows firmly shut. Fire crews ultimately brought the flames under control and prevented the fire from jumping to an adjacent storage warehouse and neighboring houses. A heavy crane was brought in to pull the burned vehicles apart so firefighters could douse remaining hot spots.
Police Confront Unrest at Scrapyard Perimeter
Tensions flared near the police cordons as residents attempted to enter the active industrial site, prompting officers to draw their batons to maintain a safe distance. Police arrested two individuals during the disturbances at the barricades. One suspect was detained after allegedly striking a police officer, while another was checked by ambulance personnel before being transferred to a police station. Authorities cleared the immediate vicinity to protect bystanders from the intense blaze.
Investigation and Previous Incidents at the Location
The exact cause of Sunday morning’s fire remains undetermined, and police have stated that arson cannot be ruled out as an investigation gets underway. Official records show that emergency services previously responded to a major fire at the exact same scrapyard location on February 19, 2025, which was later confirmed to be arson. Authorities have not yet stated whether any connection exists between the two incidents. The NL-Alert warning for heavy smoke was officially rescinded shortly before 10:30 once the fire was contained and the thickest smoke had subsided.
Keep reading