The fire that has been raging in the De Peel nature reserve since Wednesday was not extended further into Thursday night. More than sixty firefighters spent all night putting out the fire, which was difficult because of the darkness and the dangerous smoke development. For that reason, employees of Staatsbosbeheer had to withdraw from the forest on Wednesday evening.
A spokesman for the fire service reported on Thursday morning that one platoon of about 24 firefighters fought the fire from the east side last night. They received support from the hand crew, a specialist team of about ten to fifteen firefighters that moved into the area on foot. They have started firefighting operations.
Fire has not expanded further
The fire was already surrounded on Wednesday by firefighters and via wet stop lines meters wide, partly thanks to the deployment of fire fighting helicopters. On Wednesday evening, Staatsbosbeheer kept the south side of the fire wet. However, around ten o’clock in the evening, employees of the organization had to withdraw from the forest because the smoke development became too dangerous.
“Without respiratory protective equipment, the area became unworkable because of the high concentration of CO2,” a spokesperson for the fire service said. A fire squad of about 24 firefighters that stand-by stood, replaced the employees of Staatsbosbeheer and managed to keep the strip of nature of a kilometer length wet during the night.
The fire has not spread further and so still covers an area with an area of about 40 hectares, the spokesman said. However, the situation can only be properly mapped out in daylight. Then it will also be decided whether the army helicopters that helped put out the fires on Wednesday should be used again.
Odor and smoke nuisance can be worse
Pipes are being laid to the Helenavaart and the Griendtsveenkanaal to ensure sufficient fire-fighting water in the area. The extinguishing will probably take days. “We know from experience, for example from the fire in the Deurnese Peel in the spring of 2019, that the situation can change very quickly. That is why the fire master has not yet been given. First we need to be sure that we have the fire under control. can hold,” the spokesperson said.
The fire brigade continues to warn local residents about persistent stench and smoke nuisance. It could be more severe Thursday morning than Wednesday due to the lower air temperature.
This is what the Peel fire looked like from the air on Wednesday: