BRUSSELS: Belgian firefighters backed by water bombers and helicopters are battling a rapidly spreading wildfire at the Hautes Fagnes natural park near the German border, after the blaze destroyed at least 16 square kilometres (six square miles) of land within 24 hours.
Reinforcements have been deployed from across Belgium to support firefighting operations in the eastern Wallonia region. Aerial assistance is also being provided by European partners through the European Union’s civil protection mechanism as authorities struggle to contain one of the country’s largest wildfires in recent history.
The fire, which broke out on Friday, remained uncontrolled on Saturday, according to Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesperson for regional authorities in Wallonia. He said the rapidly expanding blaze had created a serious challenge for firefighters working to prevent it from reaching nearby communities.
The village of Sourbrodt, home to around 500 residents, was placed under potential evacuation as the fire continued to grow overnight. Authorities said no final evacuation decision had been made, but residents were warned to prepare in case the situation deteriorated.
“There is a risk that the fire could reach homes,” Yernaux said, adding that emergency services were deploying all available resources to protect residential areas from the advancing flames.
Local authorities advised residents to prepare essential belongings in case an evacuation becomes necessary. People were also urged to keep doors and windows closed because of heavy smoke and to closely follow official announcements for further instructions.
In nearby Eupen, the impact of the wildfire was visible as the sky gradually turned yellow and large columns of smoke rose in the distance. An AFP journalist at the scene reported that the fire was creating a thick haze over the surrounding area.
Firefighting operations have been complicated by the difficult terrain of the Hautes Fagnes park, which includes heathland, peat bogs and wooden boardwalks. The landscape makes it difficult for ground crews and vehicles to reach some areas affected by the fire.
Yernaux said firefighters had pulled back toward the edge of the forest in some locations and allowed portions of the heathland to burn because they were extremely difficult to access safely.
Authorities said the success of the operation remained heavily dependent on aerial firefighting resources. Water bombers and helicopters are being used to attack the flames from above while ground crews work to contain the fire and protect nearby forests and communities.
The scale and rapid spread of the Hautes Fagnes wildfire have raised serious concerns among Belgian authorities, particularly as firefighters continue to battle the blaze under challenging conditions. European assistance is expected to play an important role in efforts to bring the fire under control.
