In the event of a fire report, in addition to the DHV, Wormerveer, De Rijp and Akersloot are also alerted. “Wormerveer will then come with a tanker, one of us will be at the ferry to stop them so that they don’t try to enter the village. In addition, Akersloot will come with a fire boat and De Rijp with a Custom Fire Rescue Vehicle.”
All these auxiliary forces provide more tools, which are needed to fight the fire. “They have breathing air, cutting pliers and much more. We extinguish the fire ourselves from outside. But if more is needed, we need extra help. We never go inside a fire ourselves because we don’t have breathing air available. only more victims, and that is exactly what you don’t want.”
Difficult to imagine
For people who have never been to De Woude, it is difficult to imagine what the situation on the island is like. Michel understands that all too well. “It is actually a very strange situation that we have here,” says Michel. “It is not appropriate for citizens to have to put out fires themselves.” But he understands that when you come to live at De Woude, you kind of choose it yourself. “A coin has two sides and this is part of it.”
“The government cannot meet all obligations, and is therefore very happy with the efforts of local citizens. The cooperation is good, so that is very positive.” Organizations around the island do not always see the problem immediately and expect the fire brigade to be able to reach the scene of the fire easily.
“I recently spoke to someone on the phone about this. He actually said to me: ‘Then you widen the streets, right?’ Then I invited him here to the island, so he could see with his own eyes that this is happening here. is impossible,” says Michel, laughing. “If you haven’t been there you really can’t imagine what it’s like here, but I don’t blame anyone for that.”