A red alert was issued for nature reserves in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg by the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests, announced the Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V) on Tuesday.
The extreme drought has heightened the risk of severe wildfires. Therefore, entry to natural and forested areas in Antwerp and Limburg is strongly discouraged.
The rest of Flanders is under an orange alert, which signifies a high level of risk. Smoking and lighting fires is strictly prohibited in nature reserves and forests, even under an orange alert.
"Just one spark can lead to a natural disaster. Protect our nature by adhering to the no-smoking and no-fire ban, and follow all recommendations," Brouns urged.
In the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve, red flags have been raised at the entrances to various paths since Tuesday. People are now prohibited from walking in the affected area, and patrols have been deployed to ensure compliance.
