The fire erupted on Friday after training on a military target. The consequences were dire. Ash rained down in Antwerp, smoke was seen in space and drifted hundreds of kilometers into the country. About 60 firefighters from various forces were put out overnight. Gilze-Rijen’s Chinooks were also used to fight fire. These firefighting helicopters helped put out until Saturday afternoon.
Since Saturday, the orange code applies to the entire province of Antwerp. During the “orange code,” nature managers and firefighters are expected to be extremely vigilant. When a massive fire breaks out, firefighters come out stronger. More equipment and manpower is also being deployed. If a massive fire breaks out during the Yellow Code, the fire brigade switches to the modified force.
A ban on smoking and fires has been in place in the nature, desert areas and forests since Saturday. Due to it being dry and fire hazardous in the province, campfires are prohibited throughout Antwerp Province.
The regional emergency plan did not go into effect since Friday evening. Although attention is still needed: the so-called hotspots remain active, where the heat remains intense. It is also not always accessible in the military sphere. But the fire did not spread further. Although plumes of smoke may continue to rise from the area on Saturday.
Helicopter depicts the current situation. If you encounter any inconvenience, it is better to close windows and doors or close ventilation. Brecht municipality mentioned this on its Facebook page on Saturday morning.
