A code yellow warning for fire risk has been applied to nature reserves and forest areas throughout Flanders, the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests (ANB) announced on Wednesday.
As the now seasonal drought period is gradually settling in all Flemish provinces, the risk of forest fires increases.
In the event of a code yellow, the number of firefighters will be adjusted. The presence of personnel in watchtowers is also determined by the risk assessment carried out by the Nature Agency and the emergency services.
Authorities advise visitors to be vigilant, not smoke and not to light fires in forest and nature areas.
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Until Wednesday, only the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg were under code yellow. Following a new analysis, the ANB has decided to raise the alert level for the whole of Flanders. Sunny, warm weather is forecast for the next few days.
On Monday evening, a man-made fire took hold in the Hautes Fagnes, near the Belgian-German border, with over 170 hectares of vegetation going up in flames and 130 firefighters battling to put it out.
Flanders has serious drought issues, as groundwater is quickly depleted in the dry months and the soil does not absorb rainwater well. The risk of drought has become up to 20 times higher due to climate change caused by human activity.
