Rainfall is providing some relief to firefighters battling Belgium's largest wildfire on record in the High Fens nature reserve, though the blaze remains a significant concern and is spreading towards Germany. The fire has consumed an estimated 30 square kilometers, leaving blackened trees and smoldering ground.
Firefighters launched a push to encircle the wildfire on Tuesday, despite wind and rain hampering air support operations. Regional government spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux stated that the fire was "under control and contained" in areas where firefighters could operate, but a hard-to-access front towards the German border remains a concern. Some residents in the German border town of Monschau have already been evacuated due to smoke hazards.
International assistance, including aircraft from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, is aiding Belgian firefighters. However, water-bombing aircraft have been repeatedly grounded by low cloud and rain, with uncertain windows for future operations. The smoke plume has blanketed a large area, triggering air-pollution alerts as far as eastern France and leading to evacuations in some Belgian villages.
Belgium's interior minister, Bernard Quintin, noted during a visit with King Philippe that it could take "several weeks" of continued dousing to prevent the fire from reigniting, even once it is brought under control. The terrain of the High Fens, characterized by heath, peat bogs, and boardwalks, presents significant challenges for ground operations, with heavy vehicles risking sinking and firefighters struggling to tackle the blaze at close range. Local farmers have also been assisting by transporting water from a nearby lake.
The High Fens blaze broke out in an area that was ravaged by massive fires in 1911, during a similar period of heatwaves, and is Belgium's largest wildfire since then. Like much of Europe, Belgium has experienced intense heat and drought in recent days, with temperatures reaching as high as 37C last week, creating conditions conducive to wildfire outbreaks.
