Firefighter warning: Netherlands unprepared for major wildfires

The Gelderland-Midden fire department has issued a stark warning that the Netherlands is unprepared for large, uncontrollable wildfires, which could even result in fatalities, NOS and Omroep Gelderland report. This caution follows a recent wildfire in Ede earlier this month, ignited during a military training exercise.

The wildfire in Ede erupted after a military exercise involving a practice grenade. The dry ground, coupled with strong winds, caused the fire to spread rapidly. Approximately 500 firefighters from various regions were dispatched to combat the blaze. Roughly 130 hectares of nature, the equivalent of around 260 football fields, were destroyed in the process.

Although no casualties were reported in this incident, experts warn that it is only a matter of time before a wildfire with deadly consequences strikes. Brian Verhoeven, a fire researcher at the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety, stated, "We expect wildfires to increase due to climate change. Not only in number, but they can become larger and more intense."

This is not a distant concern, according to Wim Verboom, head of the Gelderland-Midden fire department and national advisor for wildfires. "It is possible for a fire of this scale, in a form we haven’t encountered before, to occur this year," he told NOS. "Even small wildfires in the Netherlands can have a huge impact due to the large number of people living and recreating in or near nature."

Verboom pointed out that the fire department's capabilities have limits. "At some point, we can’t do more, even with millions invested in additional trucks or water sources," he warned. "The focus must be on prevention."

The Dutch Safety Board, which oversees the country's emergency regions, agrees with this sentiment. Jack Mikkers, the board’s fire portfolio holder, stressed the importance of bolstering fire-fighting resources to address wildfires. "The limit of what we can handle is quickly reached when multiple large wildfires occur simultaneously," Mikkers stated. "A scenario that is becoming increasingly realistic with the current drought in the Netherlands."

In Gelderland, local authorities, municipalities, and three safety regions are implementing measures to make fires more manageable. Among these initiatives are the installation of additional water wells and strategic landscape changes designed to contain wildfires. The province is working with landowners to create natural barriers, such as roads, railways, and high-voltage power lines, to prevent fires from spreading across regions.

There is also heightened attention on over 1,100 high-risk areas, including campsites, vacation parks, healthcare institutions, critical infrastructure, and residential areas. Municipalities and safety regions must allegedly create hundreds of tailored emergency plans for these zones, a process that is time-consuming.

Reconfiguring the landscape to make it safer from fires is no simple task. Around 800 kilometers of road embankments have been inspected for fire resistance, with approximately 275 kilometers deemed partially compliant, and 50 kilometers found inadequate.

"This responsibility lies with the property owners along these boundaries, such as Rijkswaterstaat for national roads, ProRail for railways, Tennet for high-voltage lines, and the province of Gelderland for provincial embankments," explained a spokesperson for the province.

Despite the ongoing efforts to improve fire safety, the project remains incomplete. Verboom explained, "Many different parties are involved, which explains why the work is progressing slowly. But the urgency is clear to everyone now. The issue is the pace – we can't complete everything in one day."