The mayors of Woensdrecht and Kalmthout emphasise the importance of wildfire prevention
The ongoing period of extreme heat and drought once again highlights the importance of wildfire prevention. Mayors Steven Adriaansen (Woensdrecht) and Lukas Jacobs (Mayor of Kalmthout and Chair Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide) are therefore calling for extra attention to be paid to the prevention of wildfires. At the same time, several important steps are being taken to further strengthen preparations for wildfires in the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide .
Visitors are asked to take extra care
Due to high temperatures and persistent drought, the risk of a wildfire is currently higher than usual. Around 70 per cent of all wildfires are caused by people. A lit cigarette, a piece of glass amongst the bushes or plastic on the ground can all cause a fire. It is therefore strongly advised that you always dispose of rubbish in a bin or take it with you. Visitors are also asked to park their cars only in the designated parking areas. This prevents fires caused by hot car parts on dry grass and ensures that the emergency services can always get through.
New parking spaces for fire engines
To enable the fire service to respond more quickly and efficiently in the event of a wildfire, new staging areas have been created at three previously constructed firewater boreholes. This allows fire engines to be positioned safely without blocking the main roads, ensuring that fire engines and other emergency services retain unhindered access to the area. The construction of these facilities was made possible thanks to a grant from the Province of North Brabant. The boreholes themselves were constructed earlier with support from the Ministry of Defence.
Joint approach to wildfire prevention in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide
Mayor Adriaansen: “Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Through close cooperation between local authorities, emergency services, site managers and other partners, we are working to create a resilient Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide , where risks are minimised and preparedness for wildfires is continually improved.”
Lukas Jacobs (Mayor of Kalmthout/Chair of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide): “On the Kalmthoutse Heide too, three additional fire-fighting water boreholes are being provided on the initiative of Kalmthout Council. The contractor for this work was recently appointed and will construct the wells after the summer. These will be located near the fire tower in Kalmthout, close to the Verbindingsweg and the Steertse Heide, all three of which are within the nature reserve. This week, a code orange fire risk warning was issued for the countryside in Flanders. As a result, the fire tower is once again fully staffed with volunteer fire watchers who maintain constant surveillance of the Grenspark, extending well into the Netherlands. This is also supported by additional cameras that detect plumes of smoke in the wider area. “In recent years, we have invested heavily in wildfire control, through additional forest fire engines and extra training for the fire service. At the same time, a great deal of work is being done on the ground to prevent fires: both the management and the layout of the nature park are being better tailored to fire prevention.”
Cross-border risk analysis strengthens wildfire prevention
The Netherlands has been using so-called Wildfire Risk Assessment (RIN) maps for many years. These maps illustrate the risks of wildfires for each sub-area based on factors such as accessibility, fire-fighting water supplies and the presence of buildings or recreational facilities. With support from an Interreg grant, this methodology has now also been applied to the Belgian part of the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. As a result, both countries now have a joint, uniform and up-to-date risk analysis. On this basis, more targeted measures can be taken to further reduce wildfire risks.
Major wildfire drill in the pipeline
This autumn, the partners involved are organising a large-scale wildfire drill in the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. During this drill, a realistic scenario will be simulated so that emergency services and other organisations involved can practise together and gain experience in preparation for a potential real-life deployment. The drill scenario is currently being developed with the aim of identifying as many learning points as possible.
Joint wildfire management plan as a basis for the future
A major milestone is the adoption of the wildfire management plan for the Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. This plan was drawn up jointly by all the organisations involved and is endorsed by a large number of partners from the Netherlands and Belgium.
The wildfire management plan outlines the measures already taken in recent years, such as smoking bans, the construction of firebreaks, the drilling of fire-fighting water wells and improvements to the area’s accessibility. It also sets out the direction for future measures, including the expansion of fire-fighting water supplies, further cooperation between Dutch and Belgian emergency services, wildfire detection, public awareness campaigns, joint exercises, additional risk analyses and the compartmentalisation of nature reserves.
The plan sets out existing agreements and gives them a firmer administrative foundation. This creates a clear, joint course of action on which the organisations involved can hold each other to account and for which they can be held accountable.
The next step is to draw up an implementation plan setting out the agreed measures in concrete terms. This plan is expected to be finalised by the end of 2026. Progress will be monitored on a regular basis over the coming years within the relevant area committees.
Source: Woensdrecht Municipal Council