Gerrit Hiemstra warns of rising wildfires as Europe faces severe drought

Climate expert Gerrit Hiemstra says scientists have warned for years about the escalating impacts of climate change, and the situation is now evident across Southern Europe with daily reports of forest fires, low river levels and unseasonably hot, dry weeks. He stresses that the solution is to halt fossil fuel use, noting that “we are mopping up with the tap open, but the tap must be closed.”

In the Netherlands, extreme dryness has heightened the risk of nature fires. A recent incident in the Barend Bos near Barendrecht, possibly sparked by a discarded barbecue ember, prompted the fire brigade to intervene before the blaze spread. Local authorities are debating temporary bans on open flames and stricter enforcement to prevent similar incidents during the ongoing drought.