The wildfire which destroyed hectares of heath and woodland on a military training ground near ‘t Harde at the end of April was caused by an exercise involving explosives, the military police confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

Drone footage of the training exercises support that scenario, the military police statement said, showing fires breaking out in several locations close to where a mine had been detonated. “The fire spread very quickly,” the statement said.

The exercise had been planned and the “relevant authorities” had given the green light for it to take place. The results of the investigation have been handed to defence ministry officials to see if any of the protocols currently in operation for training with live munitions need to be changed.

The police are also studying three other fires at military bases last month, where the cause has not yet been established.

NOS reported earlier this month that 124 of the 846 wildfires which were registered in 2025 were on military grounds. Of them, 120 were in the Noord en Oost-Gelderland safety board area, where ‘t Harde is based.

Last year, 76 hectares on a military base near Ede were also destroyed by fire caused by a practice grenade. The causes of the recent spate have not yet been established.