Over 80 wildfires so far this month due to persistent drought
The Netherlands has had over 80 wildfires so far in March, NOS reports based on an estimate by the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety (NIPV). In the past few days alone, there were wildfires in Weert, on the Sallandse Heuvelrug, and in two nature reserves in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
In all of last year, the fire brigade received 211 reports of wildfires, 170 of which turned out to actually be fires. It is not clear how many of the reports so far in March were false alarms.
The big increase compared to last year is due to drought. Some places in the Netherlands have had no rain this month, resulting in part of the soil drying out. Last year was very wet, with an average precipitation of 986 millimeters in 2024. That is almost 200 millimeters more than typical.
Wildfires can spread quickly and unpredictably in dry periods, especially if the wind is also blowing.
On Thursday, at least 20,000 square meters of vegetation went up in flames in Weert. On Friday, some 500 square meters of forest were destroyed in a blaze on the Vughtse Heide.
On Sunday afternoon, a fire broke out in a field with ornamental grass near Biervliet in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. The fire spread very quickly due to the drought. The Dutch fire brigade responded with four fire engines. The Belgian fire brigade deployed two water trucks. Together, the firefighters managed to get the blaze under control after a few hours.
According to the fire brigade, most wildfires are caused by human action. The one on the Vughtse Heide, for example, was likely caused by kids playing with fire. There is an increased risk of wildfires in several regions due to drought. “A barbecue in this beautiful weather is a risk, but a discarded cigarette can also cause a fire. So be really careful,” Veiligheidsregio Limburg-Noord told L1.
