Wildfire Scorches 2,000 Hectares in Eastern Belgium
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
A record-breaking wildfire has scorched roughly 2,000 hectares of vegetation across eastern Belgium's High Fens region, forcing the evacuation of around 600 residents as strong winds keep the blaze out of control.
By Saturday evening, emergency crews had spent nearly 30 hours battling the inferno, which broke out at approximately 2 pm on Friday. The Walloon Public Service verified that the destruction marks the largest surface area consumed by a single wildfire in Belgian history.
Emergency Evacuations and Local Operations
Local authorities ordered immediate precautionary evacuations across surrounding communities to protect lives from the swift-moving flames. About 500 residents in Sourbrodt, located within Waimes municipality, were forced to leave their homes alongside roughly 100 people in neighbouring Butgenbach.
The evacuation mandates swept across 15 streets in Sourbrodt and seven in Butgenbach. Municipal leaders in Waimes and nearby Jalhay termed the ongoing disaster the worst fire event the nation has ever faced.
Ground forces faced steep challenges as shifting wind conditions continually stoked the flames, neutralising containment lines and threatening to push the fire further into vulnerable terrain.
European Union Mobilises Aerial Support
To reinforce overwhelmed domestic crews, Belgium officially requested help through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The joint international response includes two military helicopters from the Netherlands, a specialised firefighting helicopter from the Czech Republic, and two amphibious firefighting aircraft dispatched from Sweden.
On the ground, Belgian military personnel deployed three specialized Panther firefighting vehicles to bolster civilian units, while three domestic helicopters mounted air strikes against active hot spots.
Despite the heavy concentration of air and ground resources, regional commanders confirmed the fire remained uncontained late Saturday, with operations expected to run continuously through the weekend.
