2023-08-06 15:44:00
Global warming, the multiplication of heat waves, firefighters observe it on the front line. Admittedly, Belgium is not suffocating under the fires and the crops are not withering under a blazing sun like in Spain, and one does not yet risk being seriously burned by falling on the asphalt like in Arizona (United States) but, “every summer, I expect to have to fight once morest mega fires and I have the fear of being faced with a disaster scenario with insufficient personnel to deal with it.” A sort of breaking point, the sky falling overhead, a violent storm, the rivers suddenly overflowing. Or, alternatively, temperatures close to those of southern Europe putting the province of Namur in turmoil. In both cases, human losses like never before.
This is the feeling of Colonel Marc Gilbert, commander of the Val de Sambre rescue zone. That this seasoned professional (50 years in the business in 2024) expects the worst is obviously not reassuring.
He is convinced: “The job of firefighter is going to become more dangerous.” The beginning of summer, he said, was very hot and very dry. This resulted in numerous brush and field fires, particularly in Mettet. “10 years ago, the frequency of fires was not as high as today.” One heat wave per summer, or even two, is slowly becoming the norm.
A long period of drought, such as Belgium faced at the start of the season, exposes firefighters to much more physical external interventions. A strong period of heat, beyond the fires, it is also very slippery roads with the slightest rain, a high risk of water shortage and electrocution.
Involve citizens
With each new sequence of high heat, the ambulances go out more often, for sunstroke, dehydrated organisms, imprudence too, such as, for example, jogging daily in the furnace. As for pyromania, it exists but remains marginal.
For Colonel Marc Gilbert, the political world remains too wait-and-see with regard to the need to prepare for ever hotter summers. “We need to invest in equipment more suited to summer furnaces and above all, he said, further professionalize firefighters. In Belgium, with the exception of Brussels, Liège and Antwerp, 2/3 of the workforce are volunteers.” Another advocated solution: raise citizens’ awareness of being able to intervene in the event of an extreme meteorological phenomenon, such as a storm, heavy rain and gusts of wind.
At the end of June, the governor of the province had already mobilized all the emergency services and invited the mayors to communicate and give instructions of caution to their constituents, the forecasters announcing an apocalyptic storm. Who finally did not burst in the announced proportions. But my policy is thisconcludes Colonel Gilbert. When it comes to preserving people and property, all necessary and preventive measures must be taken.” Even if they turned out to be excessive followingwards. “A disaster is not always predictable.” Another preventive solution: that the municipal works services regularly clean the drains. It should also be noted that a rainy summer, as we are currently experiencing, should not be confused with climate change.
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