The fire started around 4.50 pm and startled many students and staff. Black smoke clouds were visible near the top floors of the building.
Emergency services quickly responded in large numbers. On the north side of the campus, the fire brigade broke through two barriers to gain access. Around the campus pond, several fire engines, ambulances and police cars gathered. Drones circled above the Tinbergen building for some time.
The staff present at the time of the fire were examined and are doing well, according to the spokesperson for the Safety Region. There is still some smoke on the fourteenth and fifteenth floors, and the fire brigade is now looking at how to ventilate those areas. The drones were used to check from above whether any fires remained, which turned out not to be the case. An indoor drone is now also inspecting the interior of the building.
Protective suits
According to the spokesperson, no asbestos was released on the sixteenth floor, as it had already been removed there. That is not the case for the two floors below, so firefighters will need to enter those wearing protective suits. The fire was not particularly large, the spokesperson said, but due to the height of the building it was still classified as a major incident.
The Tinbergen building is currently undergoing large-scale renovation and is closed to the public. It was shut down abruptly in 2021 due to fire safety concerns.
