Belgium counts on air support as record wildfire jumps in size

EUPEN, Belgium — Water-bombing aircraft and farmers' tractors united on Sunday (Aug 16) to aid firefighters combating Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has ravaged 3,000 hectares of the inaccessible High Fens nature reserve near the German border. The blaze, which ignited two days earlier, threatens to cross into Germany and has prompted the partial evacuation of two villages and a warning from Monschau, Germany, for nearby residents to evacuate as the front is just 1.8 kilometres away.

Water-bearing Chinook helicopters from the Netherlands are leading the rescue, with farmers contributing by using tractors to transport water tankers from a lake nearby. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin reported that two fire fronts, headed towards Jalhay and Monschau, were currently under control. The fire, whose origin remains unknown, has prompted air pollution alerts in eastern France and Namur.

Despite challenging conditions, Liege's governor's office stated that the defensive line protecting evacuated areas is holding strong, with no homes impacted so far. The terrain, a mix of heath, peat bogs, and wooden boardwalks, complicates firefighting efforts. Belgium has recently experienced severe heatwaves and drought, exacerbating fire risks.