In brief
On Sunday evening, a wildfire that started in Belgium’s High Fens nature reserve had doubled in size within 24 hours, reaching 3,000 hectares. Hundreds of firefighters, assisted by aircraft from Sweden, the Netherlands and local water teams, battled flames that threatened nearby villages. Despite rapid containment of some fronts, the rugged terrain and extreme heat made suppression difficult, with no homes damaged so far.
A wildfire described as Belgium’s largest in recent history has more than doubled in size in 24 hours.
Hundreds of firefighters spent a third day battling flames that tore through the country’s biggest nature reserve, forcing the evacuation of two nearby villages.
Local farmers supplied water tankers while aircraft from Sweden and the Netherlands deployed water-bombing and helicopter support.
High heat and the park’s challenging bog-like terrain hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze.
The fire grew from 80 hectares on Friday to 850 hectares early Saturday, then consumed 3,000 hectares by early Sunday, according to AFP.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said two fronts heading toward Jalhay and Monschau were under control, though conditions remain difficult and aerial assistance is still critical.
The blaze is part of a wave of European wildfires amid a record-hot summer, with incidents reported in France, Croatia, Spain and Serbia.
