Luxembourg MPs are demanding a response from the Ministry of the Interior

Members of Parliament, including representatives of the CSV, have called on the Ministry of the Interior to provide clarification regarding the timeliness of informing the public about the consequences of the forest fires in the Belgian region of the High Fens. The criticism was prompted by the first notification sent via the LU-Alert system on Sunday shortly before 3.00 pm. The message merely mentioned the presence of an ‘unpleasant odour’ in the air, whilst failing to provide any advice on how to protect oneself from smoke. It was not until around 8.00 pm, following a meeting of the inter-agency committee, that residents were advised to close their windows and doors as a precautionary measure, whilst some local authorities and meteorological services had issued similar advice much earlier.

In response to the criticism, Alain Becker, Head of the Directorate-General for Civil Security at the Ministry of the Interior, explained that the initial aim was to keep the public informed without causing panic. According to him, at the time the first warning was issued, there was no immediate danger to the public. The official acknowledged that government bodies are sometimes accused of being slow to act, but emphasised the need for a thorough assessment of the situation before making official decisions, as these entail far-reaching social consequences.

Nevertheless, on Monday morning, an inter-ministerial commission confirmed that the daily limit for particulate matter in the air had been exceeded across the Grand Duchy. Consequently, the High Commissioner for Civil Protection, Guy Bley, has extended the recommendations to keep windows closed and limit time spent outdoors, particularly for vulnerable groups. At the same time, the Minister for Health, Martine Deprez, noted that there had been no reported increase in the number of patients with respiratory problems attending A&E departments. According to official forecasts, pollutant concentrations are expected to fall by Tuesday.

At present, the current environmental situation does not pose a serious threat to health. Dr Gil Wirtz, Head of the Pulmonology Department at CHL, stated that the pollution may cause mild symptoms, such as stinging eyes or a sore throat, but will not lead to long-term damage to the lungs. The risk of breathing difficulties applies mainly to patients with chronic conditions, and the risks may only increase if high concentrations of smoke persist for a prolonged period.