Firefighters in ‘crucial’ push to encircle Belgian wildfire

Belgian firefighters are engaged in a critical push to encircle the country's largest wildfire in a century, which has burned over 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of peatland, pine trees, and hiking trails near the German border. Although much of the fire has been contained, a challenging section near the German border remains a concern due to difficult terrain and gusty easterly winds.

Despite rainclouds grounding water-bombing aircraft from several European nations, ground crews have been working tirelessly to fully surround the fire. Regional government spokesman Nicolas Yernaux stated that it is "a really crucial milestone" to encircle the fire, as it would allow for control and potential extinguishing. However, officials warn that the process could take weeks or even months, as the fire is burning underground in peat, making it difficult to extinguish completely.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for residents in Monschau, Germany, and two Belgian villages near the fire zone.