Debris has been found up to at least three kilometers from the large stable fire on Spierkesweg in Sint-Oedenrode. There were solar panels on the roof of the two large stables and parts of those panels and glass were scattered throughout the area due to the fire.
Andrea van der Rijt lives about 500 meters from the burnt-out pigsties. She was working in her garden on Wednesday afternoon when the fire broke out. “I was very shocked, because my uncle lives there. The fire was not in his house, but unfortunately it was in a lot of pigs.”
A total of 9,000 pigs and piglets died in the fire on Wednesday. “I think it’s really incredibly sad,” says Andrea. “By the way, the whole neighborhood is very sympathetic. Everyone wanted to help immediately when it happened, but that was no longer possible, unfortunately. The fire spread very quickly.”
For now, there’s not much to do for the neighborhood other than clean up. “There is junk everywhere, such as ash and glass from the solar panels.”
Andrea found large pieces in her garden.
And that is also the case with Gerrie van Duijnhoven. “I’ve been tidying up since seven this morning, because I still have to work. But otherwise the ponies can’t go outside.”
Despite a ban from the police, Gerrie went to his ponies on Wednesday afternoon. “We were not allowed through by the police, but I still went to get the ponies in the pasture and brought them in safely. You don’t want your animals to ingest that mess.”