Firefighters battle a massive Belgian wildfire, forcing hundreds to evacuate
BAELEN, Belgium (AP) — Firefighters engaged in a fierce battle against a massive wildfire in eastern Belgium on Sunday, causing extensive damage and compelling nearby residents to evacuate. The blaze, which consumed over 27 square kilometers (10 square miles) of the High Fens, a vast nature reserve, has been described as one of the worst wildfires in the country’s recent history.
About 600 nearby residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach, situated in Liège province close to the German border, were ordered to evacuate on Saturday as wind gusts intensified and smoke billowed through the area. Authorities urged tourists to depart, while a nearby gymnasium was converted into an evacuation center to accommodate those displaced.
Liège provincial Governor Hervé Jamar reported that over 250 emergency personnel, comprising over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and civil protection staff, have been mobilized to combat the inferno, bolstered by firefighting helicopters dispatched by Belgium’s federal police and the Netherlands.
No homes have been lost as of Sunday morning, but the fire was still in close proximity to residential zones, and heavy smoke continued to linger. Authorities cautioned the public to keep a safe distance from the fire zone, warning that unnecessary traffic could impede emergency vehicles and complicate firefighting efforts. The fire erupted amid weeks of exceptionally hot and dry weather, exacerbating the challenge of containing the flames.
The High Fens' unique combination of heathland and peat bogs further complicated containment efforts. In the neighboring German town of Monschau, officials cautioned that the fire was approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the border, and firefighters were on heightened alert. Early Sunday, the town's website recommended that individuals in three outlying districts near the border temporarily relocate due to potential health risks posed by the smoke.
Belgium recently endured another period of intense heat, with temperatures soaring to around 37 C (98.6 F) in certain regions on Friday. Corbet reported from Paris, while AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin made a contribution.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
