Firefighters contain suspected arson wildfire in Ridderkerk

A wildfire that broke out Saturday afternoon in a nature area along the Randweg in Ridderkerk has now been extinguished. The fire, which spanned an area of 100 by 100 meters, took approximately one hour to control, according to a spokesperson for the Veiligheidsregio (Safety Region). For safety, the area is being further dampened to ensure no hotspots remain.

Local authorities suspect the fire may have been deliberately set, and arson is currently being investigated as the cause. Emergency services had initially urged the public to stay clear of the smoke and to give firefighters enough space to operate.

This incident is the third major wildfire reported in the Netherlands this week. On Thursday, a large fire scorched approximately 130 hectares of heathland near Ede. Over 330 firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control, and the cleanup took more than a day. Another significant fire occurred on Wednesday near the Artillerie Schiet Kamp at ’t Harde. Both the Ede and ’t Harde fires were reportedly caused by mistakes during military exercises.

The recent wildfires come amid a record-dry start to 2025, making natural areas particularly vulnerable to fire. Fire officials have noted that heather grass, which grew significantly during the wet year of 2024, has dried out and is now highly flammable.