Home » News » the forest fire that ravaged the De Liereman estate in Oud-Turnhout is under control

the forest fire that ravaged the De Liereman estate in Oud-Turnhout is under control

The major forest fire that started on Wednesday evening in the De Liereman domain, in Oud-Tunhout, in the province of Antwerp, is under control, indicates the local mayor Bob Coppens (N-VA). The municipal phase of the disaster plan, which had been activated, was lifted during the evening.

De Liereman is an area of ​​500 hectares with forests, moors and marshes and is home to many rare species of flora and fauna. Like other nature reserves in the province of Antwerp, it had been closed since Monday due to the extreme risk of fire caused by the persistent drought.

On Wednesday, a fire broke out during the afternoon in the central area of ​​the estate, a 167 hectare bog. We do not yet know the origin of the incident and malicious intent is therefore not excluded.

All the surrounding fire departments came to help put out the fire Wednesday night and were supported by a water bomber helicopter. There has also been a fair amount of smoke, but it has since dissipated. The exact extent of the damage will not be visible until Thursday, according to Mayor Coppens. It is feared that it will take decades before the area fully recovers.

De Liereman covers some 500 hectares and is one of the oldest natural reserves in Belgium. There are mainly trees, moors and marshes. It shelters plants such as the marsh myrtle or the erica, as well as vulnerable animal species, like the gray curlew and the common nightjar, two species of birds, or even the calamite toad.

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