Belgium faces largest wildfire on record, turns to Europe for air support
Residents of two villages have been evacuated and authorities say the fire remains out of control.
Belgian authorities are awaiting vital air support on Sunday to combat the country's largest wildfire in modern history, which has raged since Friday. Over 250 firefighters and emergency responders have battled the blaze through the night in the High Fens nature reserve near the German border, attempting to contain the 3,000-hectare inferno.
Firefighters are heavily reliant on aircraft to extinguish the flames, with reinforcements from several European nations expected to arrive. Belgian federal police helicopters and Dutch aircraft have already been operating, repeatedly collecting water from a nearby lake. Czech Republic and Sweden will contribute additional helicopters later in the day following Belgium's activation of the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.
Germany and Norway may also provide aerial assistance, according to Hadja Lahbib, Europe's Commissioner for preparedness and crisis management. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed gratitude to European partners for their assistance. Europe has been grappling with wildfires throughout a summer of frequent heatwaves and drought, compelling thousands to evacuate in Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, and Spain.
French firefighters continued their efforts on Sunday to control multiple wildfires, including one nearing the Belgian border. The High Fens, where the wildfires are now raging, are home to fragile peatlands and pine forests that were previously ravaged by wildfires in 1911 during a similar period of heat and drought. This makes Belgium's current wildfires the largest since 1911.
While no homes have been damaged yet, two villages have been evacuated, and authorities confirm that the fire remains uncontrolled.
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