With New Year’s Eve in sight, miller Joop Roersma from Bovenkarspel has made his annual preparations for the Ceres mill. Four years ago, the Ceres mill caught fire during New Year’s Eve, most likely due to a flare that hit the mill. To prevent the mill from catching fire again, he and other millers installed a sprinkler system. Nevertheless, New Year’s Eve remains an eventful evening for him. “I’m happy when it’s January 1 again and I see that the mill is still there.”
On December 31, 2019, the mill was hit by a flare. “I couldn’t believe it, it can’t be true, I thought.” The head of the mill was completely burned away and there were rumors that the remainder of the mill would be demolished. And that involved ‘a lot of emotions’, says Roersma. “Fortunately we managed to save the mill.”
The mill was completely restored two years ago, including with reeds that did not decay during the fire. “The reed is of course so dry that the moment fire breaks through the wet layer, it immediately catches fire. There is forty centimeters of reed on the mill, which is of course bone dry, it has been there for thirty years. If it Once the burning starts, there’s no stopping it.”
And that is why Roersma, together with the other millers, installed a sprinkler system that wets the reed via a timer. “Look, here is our ring main, there is a sprinkler and from there the water runs down over the body of the mill.”
Double evening
Despite the well-functioning sprinkler system, New Year’s Eve remains a double evening for Roersma. He will never forget the event on December 31, 2019. “I’ll be happy when it’s January 1 again. Then you just hope it’s still standing.”
Roersma has a view of the mill from his house. He keeps an eye on the mill every hour and a half. He is not afraid, but: “I hope everyone behaves and does not use the fireworks they used three years ago,” said Roersma.