Netherlands needs help fighting wildfires for first time; France, Germany sending units
After a massive wildfire at a military training ground near ‘t Harde on Wednesday, wildfires broke out in at least six other locations yesterday. Most fires are under control, though the situation in ‘t Harde remains difficult, and the fire department’s resources are starting to run out. For the first time ever, the Netherlands has requested assistance from European fire services, NOS reports.
France and Germany are deploying a total of eight vehicles specifically designed to fight wildfires, along with the associated personnel and command and control, Anton Lofstra, the Commander of the Dutch Fire Service, told NOS Radio 1. They’re also sending a helicopter that can carry a large water bag underneath it.
Two of Thursday’s fires also broke out on military training grounds, just like the blazes near Assen and ‘t Harde on Wednesday.
The fire on the Oirschotse Heide started early Thursday afternoon in a defense training area close to a barracks. Bystanders said it may have started during an operation by a Chinook helicopter, though the Ministry of Defense said the cause is still under investigation. The fire covered an area of 500 by 500 meters. Within a few hours, firefighters managed to slow the blaze’s spread and, not long after, had it under control.
The second military fire on Thursday started near Weert, in a training area in the Weerter- en Budelerbergen. An area of about 500,000 square meters was ablaze. The neighboring Kempen Airport and Budel asylum shelter had to be evacuated. Belgian firefighters came to help extinguish the flames. The fire was under control a few hours later, and the asylum seekers could return to their accommodations. An estimated 70 hectares were reduced to ashes.
Commander of the Armed Forces Onno Eichelsheim said on Thursday that military exercises will not be halted, despite the wildfires. But the military will take extra measures due to the drought. For example, nothing will generate heat during the training exercises. The military will also investigate whether protocols need to change to accommodate the changing natural landscape due to climate change.
The other wildfires broke out in nature. There was a fire in the Amsterdam Waterleidingduinen. Late in the afternoon, the security region reported that it was under control, and two fire engines were still in the area to extinguish it completely.
There was also a fire in Overloon, Noord-Brabant, covering an area of approximately 130 by 300 meters. Unlike the other fires, this was quickly under control. A fire also raged in the woods near Kessel and Helden. That blaze was under control by late afternoon, though extinguishing work is still ongoing.
