Firefighters push to 'encircle' Belgian wildfire
SOURBRODT: Firefighters launched a potentially decisive push Tuesday to encircle Belgium’s largest wildfire in a century, despite wind and rain hampering air support operations over the High Fens nature reserve.
Firefighters in Belgium launched a significant effort on Tuesday to encircle the country's largest wildfire in a century, despite challenging weather conditions hampering air support operations. The High Fens nature reserve, home to the vast peatlands, pine trees, and hiking trails, saw the blaze expand to 3,000 hectares over the weekend.
Regional government spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux announced that they are aiming to definitively encircle the fire today. While the fire is under control in areas where firefighters can operate, a difficult-to-reach front near the German border remains a concern, prompting residents in Monschau to face evacuation due to smoke. Despite sustained winds blowing towards the German border, water-bombing aircraft from multiple countries, including Norway, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, have been deployed.
However, they have repeatedly been grounded by low cloud and rain. A thick plume of yellowish smoke has affected regions as far as eastern France, triggering air pollution alerts. The smoke led to evacuations in one Belgian village and two hamlets. Belgium faces ongoing wildfires fueled by dry conditions and a hot summer, with France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain also battling major fires.
The High Fens fire, which broke out in a region previously ravaged by fires in 1911, is the country's largest wildfire since, requiring weeks of soaking and dousing to prevent reignition. Firefighters have struggled due to the boggy terrain, and local farmers have joined efforts to provide water and support.
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