No Easter fires can be seen in more and more municipalities this year. After Aa and Hunze and Tynaarlo, the Easter tradition in Noordenveld is canceled either.
Due to the long -term drought, there are extra conditions in force, which none of the Easter fires can meet. In Aa and Hunze it concerns 15 Easter fires, in Tynaarlo a line is going on eleven fires. In Noordenveld, organizers of five Easter fires were informed that none of the bumps are on fire.
Last week the Drenthe (VRD) safety region increased the natural fire risk to phase 2, or extra alert. This means that there must be a greater distance between the Easter fire and homes with a thatched roof and nature reserves. None of the Easter fires in both municipality can meet this distance.
According to both municipalities, it seems that it will remain extremely dry in the coming weeks. “It is a great pity for the organizers and interested people who were already busy preparing for the traditional Easter fire,” says Mayor Anno Wietze Hiemstra of Aa and Hunze. “Unfortunately, the weather throws a spanner in the works. This is force majeure, huge bales, but of course safety is paramount.”
Mayor Klaas Smid van Noordenveld adds: “After consultation with the other Northern Drenthe municipalities, we opt for fire safety. That is not an easy decision, because we know how much the Easter fires mean for our residents and villages. But with the advice of the safety region and the increased risk of natural fire, we cannot find it justified this year.”
The organizers of the Easter fires have been informed by the municipalities.
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