The wildfire that broke out around noon on the military training ground at ‘t Harde, on the Veluwe, is partly under control, a spokesperson for the North and East Gelderland Safety Region told the ANP news agency on Wednesday evening. The fire brigade does not expect the fire to spread any further. However, the fire can still flare up “here and there”.
About four hundred firefighters are involved in the extinguishing work. Fire brigades from all over the country are helping. “As far as Limburg,” said mayor Harm-Jan van Schaik of Elburg, which includes ‘t Harde, on Wednesday evening. The mayor went to the scene of the fire in the evening. “You see burnt trees, steam coming from the ground and flames in certain places,” he told ANP.
Military exercises were underway at the site of the fire on Wednesday. According to the Defense weekly schedule, exercises were scheduled with rifle and machine gun fire, cannons and explosives.
The Royal Military Police, which carries out police duties within Defense territory, is still investigating the cause of the fire and whether all safety protocols have been complied with. Because several units were practicing and needed to be interrogated, this investigation could take “several days to weeks,” a spokesperson said.
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Wildfire Artillery Shooting Camp
Large heath fire broke out during military exercise at the Defense shooting range between Epe and ‘t Harde on the Veluwe
