Farmers, helicopters help battle record Belgian wildfire
Military helicopters backed by tractors on the ground hauled water Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium’s largest modern-day wildfire, which mushroomed in size since breaking out two days earlier in a hard-to-access nature reserve. Local farmers have poured in to help battle the blaze in the High Fens park near the German border, an area of fragile peatlands and pine forests popular with…
Belgium faced its largest modern-day wildfire in recent history, which began two days ago in a hard-to-reach nature reserve near the German border. Local farmers have joined over 200 firefighters and emergency workers in battling the blaze in the High Fens park, a region known for its fragile peatlands and pine forests. Tractors loaded with water, drawn from nearby lakes using Chinook helicopters from the Netherlands, have been instrumental in the effort.
The fire, which has burned around 3,000 hectares since it started on Friday, has been contained on two fronts but remains challenging due to the rugged terrain. Authorities are still investigating the cause, which is believed to be linked to the recent heatwave and drought conditions across Europe.
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