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Utrecht and Parts of Brabant Raise Wildfire Alert to Highest Level

Prolonged drought has left vegetation tinder-dry, raising the chance that tiny sparks race into fast-moving fires.

Overview

  • Regional fire services set fase 2, the highest regional warning level, in Utrecht and across Brabant-Noord, Brabant-Zuidoost and Midden- en West-Brabant, covering areas around Den Bosch, Eindhoven, Tilburg and Breda.
  • Under fase 2, authorities can launch reconnaissance flights and impose temporary burning bans to reduce ignition sources.
  • Officials urge visitors to nature areas to avoid open flames, watch cigarette disposal, use bins for trash and park on paved spots so access roads stay clear for crews.
  • Several other regions, including IJsselland, Haaglanden, Hollands-Midden, Kennemerland, Noord-Holland-Noord and Gelderland-Zuid, report the same status, while most of the country remains at fase 1 for now.
  • Recent data from the Netherlands Institute for Public Safety show a sharp rise in nature fires in Utrecht in 2025, with 42 incidents versus 7 in 2024 and 24 in 2023, which informs today’s tighter precautions.