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World
High Fens wildfire ravages 3,000 hectares and forces 600 evacuations
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 3 min read
The essentials
The wildfire that broke out Friday in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve had ravaged approximately 3,000 hectares by early Sunday morning and forced 600 residents to evacuate. By Sunday afternoon, the two fire fronts advancing toward Jalhay and Monschau were under control. Over 250 firefighters and emergency responders were engaged, supported by two Swedish water-bombing aircraft and four helicopters. No homes had been damaged in Belgium, though the fire's cause remained unknown.
- Approximately 3,000 hectares burned between Friday and Sunday morning.
- About 600 residents were ordered to evacuate on Saturday.
- Over 250 firefighters and rescue workers participated in operations.
- Two fire fronts were controlled by Sunday afternoon.
- The fire's cause remained unknown.
What we know
The wildfire declared Friday in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve had ravaged approximately 3,000 hectares by early Sunday morning. It covered only 80 hectares on Friday, then 850 hectares on Saturday morning, according to BBC and The Guardian.
Officials described it as the largest fire in recent or modern Belgian history. The Guardian described it as the largest in over a century.
On Saturday, about 600 residents from Waimes and Bütgenbach, in Liège province, were ordered to evacuate. The wind had shifted and smoke threatened the area, while tourists were asked to leave.
About 20 evacuated people spent the night in a sports hall. No homes had been damaged by the fire in Belgium.
Friday80
Saturday morning850
Sunday morning3000
Resources deployed
Over 250 firefighters and emergency service members participated in operations, according to Liège Governor Hervé Jamar. German firefighters were among them.
Two Swedish water-bombing aircraft arrived Sunday afternoon. Four helicopters, two Belgian and two Dutch, also supported the ground teams.
Local farmers transported water from Robertville Lake using their tractors. On Sunday, access to Bütgenbach Lake was restricted to allow aircraft to refuel there.
Dense forests, peatlands, heathlands and wooden walkways complicated the response. Heavy vehicles risked sinking in this fragile terrain.
The extreme heat compounded these challenges and made air support crucial.
Two fire fronts controlled
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