Firefighter Dies After Accident During Ouddorp Nature Fire

A volunteer firefighter has died from injuries sustained during an incident on Thursday while combating a nature fire in the dunes near Ouddorp. The firefighter, identified as Adri and affiliated with the Olympia barracks in Middelharnis and Sommelsdijk, was trapped under a fire truck as it was positioning to extinguish the flames.

What Happened

The accident occurred during the response to a nature fire that ignited on Thursday afternoon along the Oosterduinpad in Ouddorp. The firefighter was critically injured and subsequently transported to Erasmus MC via trauma helicopter, where he succumbed to his injuries. The safety region had previously expressed significant concern over his health status.

Background

The fire, which spread across approximately 2,000 square meters of nature area, was brought under control on Thursday evening. Firefighters established stop lines to contain the spread, and a Defense Department helicopter assisted in the firefighting efforts. Due to limited water availability in the dune area, specialized water trucks were also deployed. The cause of the fire remains unknown. Firefighting operations were concluded around noon on Friday, with responsibility for the nature area transferred to the Hollandse Delta water board.

Key Facts

• A volunteer firefighter named Adri died from injuries sustained during a nature fire response.
• The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in Ouddorp, Zuid-Holland.
• The firefighter was trapped under a fire truck during the operation.
• The fire destroyed approximately 2,000 square meters of nature.
• A Defense Department helicopter and specialized water trucks were used to combat the fire.