Wildfires were deliberately set this week in two separate places in Limburg, both part of Belgium’s only National Park
Following the news that some of the forest fires raging this summer in France, Spain and Portugal were the result of arson, investigators in Flanders are looking into fires that appear to have been deliberately set in the Hoge Kempen National Park.
On Wednesday evening, firefighters doused a blaze in Opglabbekerzavel in Genk, known for its rich biodiversity and heathlands. Another fire was started at about the same time some 18 kilometers east in the Lanklaarder forest in Dilsen-Stokkem. Both areas are part of the Hoge Kempen National Park.
The perpetrators must be caught and prosecuted. Such cowardly acts cannot be tolerated
Environment minister Jo Brouns
The fire in Genk was quickly brought under control, while firefighters worked for hours to contain the one in Dilsem-Stokkem, which flared up again the following morning. By noon on Thursday, it, too, was completely doused.
“There are sufficient indications pointing to intentional arson,” said the public prosecutor in a statement. “Fires broke out in four different places in Genk, and in three places in Dilsen-Stokkem.”
Flanders Nature and Forest Agency has joined the case as a civil party and has filed a criminal complaint. Firefighters were able to contain the damage to a few hectares, but “that doesn’t take away from the seriousness of the facts,” said Flemish environment minister Jo Brouns (CD&V).
Anyone deliberately setting fires “not only causes irreperable damage to valuable wildlife but puts hikers, surrounding homes and emergency services in danger,” continued Brouns. “We want to see the perpetrators caught and prosecuted. Such cowardly acts cannot be tolerated.”