Residents evacuate as Belgium wildfire scorches 1,600 hectares

On Saturday, August 15, residents in two eastern Belgian villages evacuated as firefighters from across Europe battled a massive wildfire in the High Fens natural park near the German border. The blaze, which broke out on Friday, had already scorched 16 square kilometers (six square miles) of land by Saturday afternoon, according to a regional authorities spokesperson.

Residents of Sourbrodt and Buetgenbach were ordered to evacuate at around 4:00 pm local time. Many others were advised to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed. A gymnasium in a neighboring municipality was opened to house evacuees.

The fire remains uncontrolled, with authorities calling it the largest in recent Belgian history. Firefighters, supported by water bombers and helicopters, are doing their best to protect homes. However, the terrain of the High Fens, a mix of heath, peat bogs, and wooden boardwalks, makes the area difficult to access, prompting some firefighters to pull back and allow parts of the heathland to burn.

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib arrived to offer support, with water-bombing aircraft from Sweden and helicopters from Czechia and the Netherlands en route. Belgian officials have received numerous offers of help, including catering and ground support. Liege provincial governor Herve Jamar thanked everyone showing solidarity, urging residents to leave fire department phone lines open for emergencies.

The wildfire, located just a few dozen kilometers from another major blaze in western Germany, follows a recent heatwave in Belgium, with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius in parts of the country.