Belgium’s fire of the century now ‘under control’

After a week-long struggle, Belgium's largest wildfire in a century has been brought under control, according to local authorities. The blaze, which engulfed 3,000 hectares of peatland, pine trees, and hiking trails in the High Fens nature reserve, was extinguished entirely on Thursday. Weather conditions and unforeseen factors could still pose challenges, but the fire is no longer expected to spread.

Firefighters faced difficult conditions, including powerful winds and mini-tornadoes, while working to control numerous flare-ups. A total of seven aircraft from Germany, Norway, Belgium, and Sweden were deployed to drop water in the affected areas, with ground temperatures remaining extremely high. Aerial support crews, initially grounded by bad weather, were expected to resume operations in the evening, with civil protection drones monitoring for potential flare-ups.

While the fire is now considered fully contained on its western side, operations continued in the eastern sector to complete the task. Around 350 firefighters and emergency personnel remain deployed in the effort, and many farmers have offered support since the beginning of the week. All evacuation orders have been lifted in the border region, allowing residents to return to their homes.

The fire, which broke out due to unknown reasons, was the country's largest since a similar incident in 1911. The ongoing climate debate has highlighted Belgium's preparedness for the effects of climate change, with Interior Minister Bernard Quintin addressing the issue in a parliamentary hearing. The government defends its response, citing investments in ground-based resources and the recent delivery of helicopters for water-bombing operations.