The Minister for Security and Home Affairs, Bernard Quintin, visited the area affected by the devastating fire in the High Fens on several occasions. Both on the ground and at the crisis centre, one thing is clear: the mobilisation and solidarity shown were exceptional.
Hundreds of firefighters, from more than 20 rescue zones and several foreign countries, were mobilised, alongside the local and federal police, Civil Protection, Defence, the governor's services, the Provincial Coordination Committee and the services of the Walloon Region. Farmers, local businesses and volunteers also provided invaluable help.
The Minister wanted to thank everyone who was mobilised for their commitment and excellent work.
From the outset of the crisis, the various levels of authority worked together. The federal level supported provincial coordination, notably through the NCCN and the Directorate-General for Civil Security. The European Civil Protection Mechanism, activated on Friday evening, made it possible to quickly mobilise international reinforcements, particularly from Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
Bernard Quintin: “The provincial phase worked. Federal support worked. Solidarity between our rescue zones and European solidarity worked. That is what effective crisis management looks like.”
But a crisis of this scale must also allow us to learn lessons. The Minister will shortly present the government with a national action plan to tackle vegetation fires, in order to strengthen our preparedness and capabilities.
“Because a better-prepared country is a better-protected country.”