A massive wildfire has scorched at least 20 square kilometres of Belgium’s High Fens nature reserve, forcing hundreds to evacuate as firefighters battle flames amid extreme heat and drought.
Hundreds of people were ordered to leave their homes in eastern Belgium on Saturday as firefighters fought a rapidly spreading wildfire that has devastated large parts of the High Fens nature reserve near the German border.
The blaze, which erupted on Friday, has burned at least 20 square kilometres of heathland and forest and remained out of control by Saturday evening, according to Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesperson for regional authorities in Wallonia as reported by AFP. Officials have described it as the largest wildfire in Belgium’s modern history.
The fire is burning through a landscape of peat bogs, pine forests and heathland that is particularly difficult for firefighters to access. Thick smoke covered the area, while large sections of the reserve were reduced to blackened vegetation.
Authorities ordered evacuations in parts of Sourbrodt and Buetgenbach as a precaution. Belgian media reported that around 600 people were asked to leave, with emergency accommodation arranged at a nearby sports facility. Residents in surrounding areas were also advised to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors shut.
Belgium activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to secure additional firefighting support. A Dutch helicopter was deployed, while more aircraft from the Netherlands and Sweden were expected to join operations. Water-bombing aircraft were also being brought in to help contain the flames.
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The difficult terrain has complicated efforts on the ground. Firefighters have allowed some sections of the heathland to burn while concentrating resources around areas where the blaze could threaten homes. Officials said the operation remained heavily dependent on aerial firefighting.
The wildfire comes as Belgium and several other European countries endure another spell of extreme heat. Temperatures reached around 37°C in parts of Belgium on Friday, worsening already dry conditions.
The High Fens had experienced major wildfires in the past, including devastating fires in 1911. The latest blaze has raised fresh concerns over the growing wildfire threat as extreme heat and prolonged dryness affect increasingly large parts of Europe.
The fire is also located relatively close to a major wildfire in western Germany, where around 1,800 people have already been evacuated as flames approached residential areas.
With inputs from agencies