Firefighters are battling Belgium’s largest wildfire on record in the High Fens nature reserve near the German border. The blaze, which began on Friday in Liege province, has burned more than 27 square kilometres (10.4 square miles) and is spreading east towards Germany.
About 600 people in the Belgian border municipalities of Waimes and Butgenbach were told to leave their homes on Saturday after shifting winds carried smoke across the area. Authorities said no homes had been affected as of Sunday morning, but urged people to stay away from the fire zone.
Crews focus on containing the fire front
More than 250 emergency services personnel have been deployed, including firefighters from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Stephanie Ernoux, a spokesperson for the government of Belgium’s Wallonia province, said crews were concentrating on containing the advancing front.
The European Forest Fire Information System said the fire had surpassed Belgium’s previous record, set in 2011 when a blaze burned 14 square kilometres (5.4 square miles) in the same reserve.
Related coverage: Fourth heatwave of 2024 expected in UK as fire chiefs warn of wildfire risks.
Smoke prompts precautions in Germany
The German town of Monschau said the fire had come within about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) of the border. Officials did not expect the flames to cross into Germany, but advised residents of three districts to leave temporarily because of the smoke.
Heat and dry weather add to fire risk
The fire followed another period of severe heat in Belgium, where temperatures reached roughly 37C (98.6F) in some places on Friday after weeks with barely any rain. Weather agencies recorded temperatures above 35C (95F) in several European countries on Thursday, while west London reached 38.1C (100.5F), the United Kingdom’s hottest day of the year.
Fires have also displaced people in Germany, France, the UK, Croatia and Greece in recent days. About 500,000 hectares (1.24 million acres) have burned across the European Union this year.
More context: Survivors and firefighters confront Spain’s worsening wildfire threat.
Also read: Record wildfire seasons in Canada intensify demand for federal response agency.
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