Fires in Diest and Scherpenheuvel-Zichem Spark Warnings After Dry March

Scherpenheuvel-Zichem (Eurotoday) – Fire officials are urging local residents to remain alert following a series of small fires reported along roads in Diest and within the heathlands of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. “After the wet winter, people assume the conditions are still damp, but March was exceptionally dry and sunny, which has brought on early drought conditions,” explained fire services spokesperson Jeroen Ameel.

The fire department issued a public advisory following several recent fire incidents in the Flemish Brabant region, particularly in Diest and Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. According to Jeroen Ameel, a spokesperson from the fire service, the combination of a wet winter followed by an unusually dry March has resulted in elevated fire risks across the region.

Although firefighters have managed to contain the most recent outbreaks, authorities report that such fires are occurring with increasing frequency. Currently, the Flemish Brabant region is under code yellow, a status indicating heightened alertness due to fire hazards without an immediate or acute threat.

“These fires weren’t large, but we are noticing they are happening more and more frequently,”

stated Jeroen Ameel of the Oost Vlaams-Brabant Emergency Service Zone.

“People assume everything is still moist after the winter, but March’s dry, sunny weather has already led to drought, meaning fires can ignite more easily,”

he further explained.

Despite the current code yellow status — which implies no immediate danger — fire authorities are advising continued public vigilance.

“Now is not the time to burn weeds. I recommend waiting until after it rains,”

cautioned Ameel.

“Fortunately, the weather forecast looks promising in that regard,”

he added.

“So there is no need for panic, but people do need to stay cautious.”

Historical Fire Risk and Climate Trends in Flemish Brabant

Shifting climate patterns have increased the risk of wildfires in Flemish Brabant, which encompasses the towns of Diest and Scherpenheuvel-Zichem. According to the Flemish Environment Agency, March 2024 ranks among the five driest months in the past decade, with rainfall levels down by 60% from seasonal averages. Data from Belgium’s Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) highlights a 30% increase in early spring dry periods over the last twenty years, resulting in heightened wildfire susceptibility throughout the country.

Emergency service records reveal that, between 2020 and 2023, the region averaged 15 vegetation fires per month during dry periods. Many of these were caused by human actions, including discarded cigarettes and unsupervised agricultural burning. The Oost Vlaams-Brabant Emergency Service Zone received 25% more fire-related emergency calls in the early months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Under Belgium’s national fire risk guidelines, Flemish Brabant is currently considered a moderate-risk zone (Code Yellow), with heathlands and roadside vegetation being the most vulnerable. Climate projections from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) predict increasingly dry conditions in the area, emphasizing the necessity of proactive public fire prevention efforts.