Belgium High Fens wildfire forces evacuations near German border

A massive wildfire in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve has forced the evacuation of about 600 residents from the municipalities of Waimes and Butgenbach in Liege province near the German border. India Today reports that the blaze, which has burned more than 27 square kilometres, is one of the worst in the country's recent history. Authorities opened a gymnasium for evacuees, and no homes had been affected as of Sunday morning.

Liege provincial Governor Herve Jamar said over 250 emergency personnel have been deployed, including more than 100 Belgian and German firefighters, along with police, military officers and civil protection staff. Firefighting helicopters are being used, and officials urged people to stay away from the zone to avoid blocking emergency vehicles. The fire followed weeks of unusually hot and dry weather, with temperatures reaching about 37 degrees Celsius on Friday.

In Germany, the nearby town of Monschau said the fire was about 3 kilometres from the border and advised people in three outlying districts to leave temporarily due to health risks from smoke. Efforts to contain the flames have been made harder by the High Fens’ landscape of heathland and peat bogs.