The fires that raged in several places in Brabant on Thursday make it clear how great the pressure can be on the fire brigade when different situations arise. “It was a lot and that means that sometimes you will reach the limits of what you can still handle,” says firefighter Paul van Dooren.
According to Van Dooren, there was no situation on Thursday in which the fire brigade could no longer cope, but it was starting to look like it. “When there are so many fires at the same time, things become tight. If you have to deploy several chief officers on duty at the same time and also take into account the relief of firefighters, you notice that the pressure increases,” he explains.
130 firefighters
Major efforts were made during the fire on the Oirschotse Heide and the fire brigade also responded en masse in Waalwijk and Budel. About 130 firefighters were working in Oirschot on Thursday. Later that day they were relieved by dozens more colleagues.
The circumstances of the fire on the Oirschotse Heide where Van Dooren was made the work extra difficult. “It was a difficult fire. The colleagues had to carry a lot of hoses and it was very hot. There was also a lot of wind and the fire kept flaring up because of the drought,” says Van Dooren. So it was a tough job for the fire brigade.
Making a big splash is important
According to the firefighter, a day like Thursday also shows how important it is to respond quickly. “It is precisely by being on site quickly and with a lot of equipment that you can keep smaller fires small.”
An important part of that effort comes from volunteers who are flexible to assist when necessary. “They have their own jobs, but they are all willing to come and help and are also supported by their employer.” According to Van Dooren, the fact that this is possible shows how committed everyone is.
‘You can be asked too much’
At the same time, there is also something vulnerable there, because the volunteers also have to keep their own work going and cannot always leave. “When we are faced with a situation in the Netherlands where we can be overloaded, because there are multiple fires or incidents at the same time, we can reach the limits of what you can handle.”
Despite the pressure, motivation among firefighters remains high. “You see a lot of enthusiasm among colleagues to deliver good work.” Almost all posts in the region contributed to fighting the fires on Thursday.”
