Zone de secours Wallonie Picarde (ZSWAPI) is the rescue zone for 19 municipalities in western Hainaut, from Mouscron and Comines-Warneton on the French border to Tournai, Ath and Lessines: about 320,000 residents on roughly 1,200 km². Its 670 operational staff, 287 career and 383 volunteer, work from seven posts. Tournai, Rebaix, Blaton and Evregnies have crews on duty in the station around the clock; Leuze, Mouscron and Warneton keep an ambulance crew in the station and call firefighters in from home. The zone also runs its own dispatch. Headquarters are at Orcq (Tournai). In an emergency, dial 112.
Zone headquarters (non-emergency)
+32 69 58 08 95- info@zswapi.be; fire prevention: prevention@zswapi.be
- Chaussée de Lille 422C, 7501 Orcq (Tournai), Belgium
- zswapi.be
- Office hours: Not published
Who Provides Fire Protection in Zone de secours Wallonie Picarde
Since 2015, Belgian fire services are organized in rescue zones (zones de secours) run by their member municipalities. Wallonie Picarde covers 19, organized in four sectors (center, west, south, east):
- Tournai area — Tournai, Antoing, Brunehaut and Rumes.
- Mouscron and the north — Mouscron, Comines-Warneton, Estaimpuis, Pecq, Celles and Mont-de-l'Enclus.
- The south — Bernissart, Beloeil and Péruwelz.
- Ath and the east — Ath, Lessines, Leuze-en-Hainaut, Frasnes-lez-Anvaing, Ellezelles and Flobecq.
On September 1, 2025, the zone had 723 staff: 670 operational, of whom 287 are career firefighters (pompiers professionnels) and 383 volunteers (volontaires), including 77 volunteer ambulance staff who are not firefighters, plus 53 administrative staff. Dial 112: the zone's own dispatch, with two operators on duty around the clock, sends the fastest available post.
Fire Posts in Zone de secours Wallonie Picarde
| Post | Type | Location | Specialist teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poste de Warneton | Volunteer (on call) | Comines-Warneton | Not published |
| Poste de Mouscron | Volunteer (on call) | Avenue de Barry 9, 7700 Mouscron | Not published |
| Poste d'Evregnies | Combination (24/7) | Rue de la Couronne 69, 7730 Evregnies (Estaimpuis) | Not published |
| Poste de Tournai | Combination (24/7) | Tournai | Not published |
| Poste de Blaton | Combination (24/7) | Blaton (Bernissart) | Not published |
| Poste de Leuze-en-Hainaut | Volunteer (on call) | Tour Saint-Pierre 13, 7900 Leuze-en-Hainaut | Not published |
| Poste de Rebaix | Combination (24/7) | Rebaix (Ath) | Not published |
Since 2015 the zone has cut its posts from 13 to 7 and built three new ones: Rebaix replaced Ath and Lessines; Blaton replaced Basècles, Beloeil, Bernissart, Péruwelz and Antoing; Evregnies replaced Dottignies and Estaimpuis. "On call" posts keep 2 ambulance staff in the station and 6 firefighters on recall. Posts have no public phone numbers. Dial 112 for emergencies.
Estimated Response Time
Seven posts share about 1,200 km², so the average distance to the nearest post is roughly 7.4 km (4.6 mi). With about 270 residents per km² and mixed crews, the zone uses the suburban/combination column of our baseline table for the four posts with crews in the station (by day at least 11 people each, 17 at Tournai). Leuze, Mouscron and Warneton get the volunteer column for fire calls, because firefighters must first reach the post; the dispatch sends whichever post is fastest.
| Radius | Staffed posts (combination) | On-call posts (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 2.4 km | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 2.4–4.8 km | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 4.8–9.7 km | 9–13 min | 12–18 min |
| > 9.7 km | 13+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 7–10 minutes in Tournai and near the staffed posts, and 9–13 minutes for most other addresses; longer in the farming villages between posts.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Grass patch, dumpster, small vehicle | 5–20 min |
| Medium | Room-and-contents, car fully involved | 15–45 min |
| Large | Whole house, commercial unit | 45–120 min |
| Major | Multi-alarm, industrial, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
The zone joins the historic city of Tournai and the dense border towns of Mouscron and Comines to wide farmland. A first turnout needs at least six firefighters per vehicle, which is why the zone moved to fewer, fully staffed posts. On the border, the second-fastest help can come from the French Nord fire service. The zone plans to dispatch its 12 tankers according to the water resources available locally.
Apparatus & Equipment
The zone's 2025–2031 programme sets this minimum fleet across the seven posts (reserves included):
- Fire engines (autopompes)
- 15
- Water tankers (citernes)
- 12
- Aerial ladders and platforms
- 9
- Ambulances
- 16
- Rescue and extrication vehicles
- 5
- Traffic-control vans
- 7
- Light vehicles
- 19
Specialist teams named in the programme: rope rescue (GRIMP), divers, surface water rescue swimmers (nageurs sauveteurs aquatiques) and dog teams. The zone is also developing drone use with its mobile command post.
- Water rescue
- Dive rescue
- Rope rescue (GRIMP)
- Search dogs
- Drones
- Ambulance (EMS)
Zone de secours Wallonie Picarde in Numbers
- 19 municipalities, 319,789 residents
- 723 staff (September 2025); 7 posts, down from 13
- About €20 million invested in the three new posts
- 2020 (latest report): 27,175 interventions: 20,262 ambulance (74.5%) and 6,913 fire-service calls
Services & Community Programs
- Volunteer and career recruitment: yearly calls for volunteer firefighter-ambulance staff on zswapi.be.
- Fire prevention: prevention certificates, advice and evacuation drills; prevention@zswapi.be.
Ratings & Accreditation
Belgium has no public fire-protection rating comparable to the US ISO classification. Not applicable.
Outdoor burning: In Wallonia, burning waste in the open air is banned. Dry natural plant waste is the only exception, and a fire must stay at least 100 m (330 ft) from houses, orchards, hedges, crops and stacks, and 25 m (80 ft) from woods (Rural Code, art. 89). Wet plant waste and fresh grass clippings may not be burned, and municipalities can add rules or drought bans. Take garden waste to a recyparc and ask your municipality before lighting any outdoor fire.
Neighboring Rescue Zones
- Zone de secours Hainaut-Centre, Hainaut Province (east: Enghien, Silly, Lens, Chièvres, Brugelette, Saint-Ghislain, Hensies)
- Brandweer Westhoek, West Flanders (north of Comines-Warneton: Wervik, Ieper, Heuvelland, Mesen)
- Brandweer Fluvia, West Flanders (north: Menen, Wevelgem, Kortrijk, Spiere-Helkijn, Avelgem)
- Brandweerzone Vlaamse Ardennen, East Flanders (north: Kluisbergen, Ronse, Maarkedal, Lierde)
- Hulpverleningszone Zuid-Oost, East Flanders (north of Lessines: Geraardsbergen)
- France (west and south: Nord department, including the Lille area)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for the fire service in Tournai and Mouscron?
The zone's general number is +32 69 58 08 95 (Chaussée de Lille 422C, Orcq). For any fire or medical emergency, dial 112.
Which municipalities does Zone de secours Wallonie Picarde cover?
19 municipalities, including Tournai, Mouscron, Ath, Lessines, Comines-Warneton, Péruwelz, Leuze-en-Hainaut and Bernissart.
Are the firefighters in Wallonie Picarde paid?
Both: 287 career staff and 383 volunteers (September 2025). Tournai, Rebaix, Blaton and Evregnies have crews in the station 24/7.
How fast does the fire service respond in Wallonie Picarde?
Response times are not published. We estimate 7–10 minutes near the staffed posts and 9–13 minutes for most other addresses.
Can I burn garden waste in Tournai or Mouscron?
Only dry plant waste, at least 100 m from houses and 25 m from woods, under Walloon rules and local bylaws. Household waste may never be burned. Ask your municipality first.
Last verified:
- FPS Home Affairs — Rescue zone contacts (April 17, 2026) (members, HQ, phone)
- ZSWAPI — Home (population, contacts)
- ZSWAPI — Organization (sectors and posts)
- ZSWAPI — Multi-year policy programme 2025–2031 (staff, fleet, staffing, dispatch, teams, post streets)
- RTBF — Three new fire posts in Wallonie picarde (merged posts, cost, crew size)
- ZSWAPI — Activity report 2020 (area, 2020 interventions)
- RTBF — Garden fires: rules and distances (2026)