Brandweer Ede/Gelderland-Midden alert en voorbereid op natuurbranden, droogte blijft aandachtspunt.

It will not have escaped your notice over the past week: wildfires occurred in several locations in the Netherlands, including incidents at Defense training grounds. Due to the dry conditions, the risk remains present. Wim Verboom, Department Manager of Risk Management and Regional Operational Leader within the fire department of the Safety and Health Region Gelderland-Midden, discusses the approach to major wildfires, the concerns at play, and the latest developments. With the slogan “Preventing fire is your nature,” he also emphasizes what people themselves can do to prevent wildfires. With the large heath fire in Ede last April still fresh in people's minds, some residents may have thought: “I just hope that goes well.” Mayor René Verhulst also expressed his concerns on camera for 1Vandaag (AVROTROS) regarding the military exercises on the heath. Hikers we spoke to on the heath indicate that they find the wildfires particularly distressing for the nature reserve itself. They do not experience fear; They have confidence in the fire department and view the N224 as a natural separation between the heath and their residential area. Last week, the Marine Corps from Doorn set up camp in the forest near the training grounds on the Eder heath. As far as is known, this proceeded without incident.