{"id":33212,"date":"2026-08-17T16:49:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/33212\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T16:49:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:49:26","slug":"rain-helps-in-fighting-belgiums-largest-ever-wildfire-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/33212\/","title":{"rendered":"Rain helps in fighting Belgium&#8217;s largest-ever wildfire"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rain\u00a0forecast\u00a0for\u00a0eastern\u00a0Belgium\u00a0today\u00a0is\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0provide\u00a0much-needed\u00a0assistance\u00a0to\u00a0firefighters\u00a0battling\u00a0the\u00a0largest\u00a0wildfire\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0country&#8217;s\u00a0history,\u00a0as\u00a0authorities\u00a0work\u00a0to\u00a0contain\u00a0the\u00a0blaze\u00a0and\u00a0prevent\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0spreading\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0German\u00a0border.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Belgium&#8217;s\u00a0Royal\u00a0Meteorological\u00a0Institute\u00a0(IRM)\u00a0forecast\u00a0between\u00a0five\u00a0and\u00a0nine\u00a0millimetres\u00a0of\u00a0rain\u00a0for\u00a0Monday\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0High\u00a0Fens\u00a0nature\u00a0reserve\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0east\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country,\u00a0where\u00a0wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0burning\u00a0since\u00a0Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Temperatures\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0area\u00a0are\u00a0also\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0fall\u00a0to\u00a0around\u00a020\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius,\u00a0after\u00a0exceeding\u00a030\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius\u00a0last\u00a0week\u00a0during\u00a0a\u00a0heatwave\u00a0that\u00a0pushed\u00a0temperatures\u00a0in\u00a0parts\u00a0of\u00a0Belgium\u00a0as\u00a0high\u00a0as\u00a037\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0expected\u00a0rainfall\u00a0to\u00a0Belgian\u00a0broadcaster\u00a0RTBF,\u00a0a\u00a0fire\u00a0service\u00a0commander\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0change\u00a0in\u00a0weather\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0significant\u00a0impact.&#8221;It\u00a0will\u00a0change\u00a0everything,&#8221;\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0noting\u00a0that\u00a0in\u00a0addition\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0rainfall\u00a0itself,\u00a0humidity\u00a0levels\u00a0would\u00a0also\u00a0increase.<\/p>\n<p>Wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0affected\u00a0several\u00a0European\u00a0countries\u00a0this\u00a0summer\u00a0following\u00a0successive\u00a0heatwaves\u00a0intensified\u00a0by\u00a0climate\u00a0change,\u00a0which\u00a0have\u00a0sharply\u00a0increased\u00a0dryness\u00a0in\u00a0both\u00a0the\u00a0weather\u00a0and\u00a0vegetation.<\/p>\n<p>Data\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0European\u00a0Forest\u00a0Fire\u00a0Information\u00a0System\u00a0showed\u00a0that\u00a0wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0burned\u00a0approximately\u00a01.4\u00a0million\u00a0acres\u00a0across\u00a0Europe\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0beginning\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0year.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Earlier\u00a0this\u00a0week,\u00a0wildfires\u00a0that\u00a0swept\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0Greek\u00a0island\u00a0of\u00a0Salamina\u00a0killed\u00a0an\u00a0elderly\u00a0couple,\u00a0damaged\u00a0homes\u00a0and,\u00a0fanned\u00a0by\u00a0strong\u00a0winds,\u00a0pushed\u00a0flames\u00a0toward\u00a0residential\u00a0areas.\u00a0Authorities\u00a0were\u00a0forced\u00a0to\u00a0evacuate\u00a0around\u00a0500\u00a0people\u00a0by\u00a0ferry.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile,\u00a0a\u00a0wildfire\u00a0in\u00a0Aragon,\u00a0northeastern\u00a0Spain,\u00a0destroyed\u00a0around\u00a040,000\u00a0acres,\u00a0while\u00a0a\u00a0blaze\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Croatian\u00a0resort\u00a0town\u00a0of\u00a0Omis\u00a0forced\u00a0about\u00a01,000\u00a0people\u00a0to\u00a0evacuate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Related Story<\/p>\n<p>           <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gulf-times.com\/article\/731102\/international\/thousands-stranded-as-unprecedented-rain-kills-five-in-japan\" title=\"Thousands stranded as \u2018unprecedented\u2019 rain kills five in Japan\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdnx.premiumread.com\/?url=https:\/\/gulf-times.com\/gulftimes\/uploads\/images\/2026\/08\/15\/479374.jpg&amp;w=400&amp;q=100&amp;f=webp\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid rounded\" alt=\"Abandoned cars are seen partially submerged on a flooded road in Sakura, Chiba prefecture, yesterday. (AFP)\" title=\"Abandoned cars are seen partially submerged on a flooded road in Sakura, Chiba prefecture, yesterday. (AFP)\" onerror=\"this.src=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<p>           <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gulf-times.com\/article\/730793\/international\/ukeurope\/spain-wildfire-forces-470-evacuations\" title=\"Spain wildfire forces 470 evacuations\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdnx.premiumread.com\/?url=https:\/\/gulf-times.com\/gulftimes\/uploads\/images\/2026\/08\/09\/477667.JPG&amp;w=400&amp;q=100&amp;f=webp\" class=\"figure-img img-fluid rounded\" alt=\"&#10;A plane drops fire retardant over a forested area to slow the spread of a wildfire in Niebla, Huelva. (Reuters) \" title=\"&#10;A plane drops fire retardant over a forested area to slow the spread of a wildfire in Niebla, Huelva. (Reuters) \" onerror=\"this.src=\"\/><\/p>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rain\u00a0forecast\u00a0for\u00a0eastern\u00a0Belgium\u00a0today\u00a0is\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0provide\u00a0much-needed\u00a0assistance\u00a0to\u00a0firefighters\u00a0battling\u00a0the\u00a0largest\u00a0wildfire\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0country&#8217;s\u00a0history,\u00a0as\u00a0authorities\u00a0work\u00a0to\u00a0contain\u00a0the\u00a0blaze\u00a0and\u00a0prevent\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0spreading\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0German\u00a0border. \u00a0 Belgium&#8217;s\u00a0Royal\u00a0Meteorological\u00a0Institute\u00a0(IRM)\u00a0forecast\u00a0between\u00a0five\u00a0and\u00a0nine\u00a0millimetres\u00a0of\u00a0rain\u00a0for\u00a0Monday\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0High\u00a0Fens\u00a0nature\u00a0reserve\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0east\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country,\u00a0where\u00a0wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0burning\u00a0since\u00a0Friday. \u00a0 Temperatures\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0area\u00a0are\u00a0also\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0fall\u00a0to\u00a0around\u00a020\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius,\u00a0after\u00a0exceeding\u00a030\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius\u00a0last\u00a0week\u00a0during\u00a0a\u00a0heatwave\u00a0that\u00a0pushed\u00a0temperatures\u00a0in\u00a0parts\u00a0of\u00a0Belgium\u00a0as\u00a0high\u00a0as\u00a037\u00a0degrees\u00a0Celsius. Speaking\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0expected\u00a0rainfall\u00a0to\u00a0Belgian\u00a0broadcaster\u00a0RTBF,\u00a0a\u00a0fire\u00a0service\u00a0commander\u00a0said\u00a0the\u00a0change\u00a0in\u00a0weather\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0significant\u00a0impact.&#8221;It\u00a0will\u00a0change\u00a0everything,&#8221;\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0noting\u00a0that\u00a0in\u00a0addition\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0rainfall\u00a0itself,\u00a0humidity\u00a0levels\u00a0would\u00a0also\u00a0increase. Wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0affected\u00a0several\u00a0European\u00a0countries\u00a0this\u00a0summer\u00a0following\u00a0successive\u00a0heatwaves\u00a0intensified\u00a0by\u00a0climate\u00a0change,\u00a0which\u00a0have\u00a0sharply\u00a0increased\u00a0dryness\u00a0in\u00a0both\u00a0the\u00a0weather\u00a0and\u00a0vegetation. Data\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0European\u00a0Forest\u00a0Fire\u00a0Information\u00a0System\u00a0showed\u00a0that\u00a0wildfires\u00a0have\u00a0burned\u00a0approximately\u00a01.4\u00a0million\u00a0acres\u00a0across\u00a0Europe\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0beginning\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0year. \u00a0 Earlier\u00a0this\u00a0week,\u00a0wildfires\u00a0that\u00a0swept\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0Greek\u00a0island\u00a0of\u00a0Salamina\u00a0killed\u00a0an\u00a0elderly\u00a0couple,\u00a0damaged\u00a0homes\u00a0and,\u00a0fanned\u00a0by\u00a0strong\u00a0winds,\u00a0pushed\u00a0flames\u00a0toward\u00a0residential\u00a0areas.\u00a0Authorities\u00a0were\u00a0forced\u00a0to\u00a0evacuate\u00a0around\u00a0500\u00a0people\u00a0by\u00a0ferry. Meanwhile,\u00a0a\u00a0wildfire\u00a0in\u00a0Aragon,\u00a0northeastern\u00a0Spain,\u00a0destroyed\u00a0around\u00a040,000\u00a0acres,\u00a0while\u00a0a\u00a0blaze\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Croatian\u00a0resort\u00a0town\u00a0of\u00a0Omis\u00a0forced\u00a0about\u00a01,000\u00a0people\u00a0to\u00a0evacuate.\u00a0 Related Story\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33213,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[7,3466,17909,2569,17908],"class_list":["post-33212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-belgium","tag-belgium","tag-fighting","tag-helps","tag-in","tag-rain"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/117111879264324540","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}