Kalmthoutse (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Around 200 firefighters from Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant, guided by forest rangers and Civil Protection, practised wildfire response at Kalmthoutse Heide, led by Jan Van Roey and Dwino Aerts.
As VRT News reported, around 200 firefighters from different fire departments in 3 provinces joined forest rangers and the Civil Protection Department today, Sep 13, 2025, for a large-scale wildfire drill on the Kalmthoutse Heide municipality of Kalmthout, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium.
The drill comes as experts warn that climate change and longer drought periods have greatly increased the risk of wildfires. Jan Van Roey, zone commander of Fire Brigade Zone Rand, said the heath is unusually dry.
“I just passed several fens here. I have never seen them this dry before, but that is the reality now,”
he said. Authorities say careful planning and preparation are essential to limit damage if a fire breaks out.
“The heath also grows on purple moor grass, which dries out very quickly, making it particularly dangerous for fires. And there are houses around the heath, so a fire will also reach those houses more quickly,”
warns the zone commander.
What measures are 200 firefighters taking at Kalmthoutse Heide?
Officials cited recent forest fires in Spain, France and Portugal to show what could happen during extreme events.
“There have already been fires on the heathland here, so we must prepare carefully,”
Van Roey said. Teams are considering a preventative response by informing visitors and using smart cameras on lookout towers to detect fires as quickly as possible.
Participants were from the provinces of Antwerp, Limburg and Flemish Brabant. In total, 60 vehicles were spread across the heath to simulate conditions of a real emergency. Forest rangers were present to guide teams on the terrain. Civil defence personnel operated drones to locate the fire and monitor its progress.
Dwino Aerts, director of operations at the Rand Fire Department, said teamwork must be practised regularly.
“Coordinating so many people is not easy. There must be a clear chain of command. Instructions must be precise, and no one can get in each other’s way,”
he said.
“Cell phones don’t have much coverage here.”
Dwino Aerts, Director of Operations at the Rand Fire Zone
Zone Commander Jan Van Roey said teams from other provinces often do not know the area well.
“Colleagues from outside need time to learn their bearings,”
he said. The exercise also tested procedures and communication under realistic conditions. Officials said all challenges and lessons identified during the drill will be reviewed. These insights will be included in future training and operational plans.
“Don’t forget that cell phones don’t always have the same signal on the heath, for example,”
says Aerts.
The Kalmthoutse Heide has a long history of wildfire risks, particularly during dry summers. Fires were reported in 1996, 2003, and 2010, prompting local authorities to improve prevention and response measures.
In recent years, smaller fires occurred in 2018, 2020, and 2022, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of the heathlands. Belgian fire services have since increased joint exercises, installed early detection systems, and launched public awareness campaigns to educate visitors.
