Firefighters battle a massive Belgian wildfire, forcing hundreds to evacuate

A massive wildfire scorched over 27 square kilometers in eastern Belgium's High Fens nature reserve on Sunday, prompting authorities to evacuate approximately 600 residents from nearby municipalities in Waimes and Bütgenbach, near the German border. Winds shifted and smoke spread, prompting the evacuation orders and urging tourists to leave the area. A nearby gymnasium was converted into a shelter for evacuees.

Liège provincial Governor Hervé Jamar reported that over 250 emergency personnel, including Belgian and German firefighters, police, military officers, and civil protection staff, have been deployed to combat the blaze. Assistance was provided by firefighting helicopters from Belgium's federal police and the Netherlands. Despite the efforts, no homes have been damaged as of Sunday morning, but the fire remained close to residential areas and heavy smoke continued to linger.

Authorities cautioned residents to stay away from the fire zone, warning that unnecessary traffic could impede emergency vehicles and hinder firefighting operations. The fire comes after weeks of scorching and dry weather in Belgium, with temperatures peaking at around 37°C (98.6°F) in certain regions. The High Fens, a reserve known for its heathland and peat bogs, posed a unique challenge for firefighting efforts.

In the German town of Monschau, officials cautioned that the fire was 3 kilometers from the border and advised on alert status. On Sunday morning, the town's website recommended that people in three outlying districts near the border temporarily evacuate the area, as officials could not dismiss health risks posed by smoke.