A 34-year-old man from The Hague, identified as O.W., had been allowed to spend several nights with his caravan on the grounds of a newly established farm in Dirkshorn. On May 13, the caravan caught fire after a cigarette was discarded, and the fire then spread to the farm. He said he had lost everything.

The account stated that W. was psychotic at the time. No further details about the fire or its aftermath were provided.