Belgium wildfire spreads to 3,000 hectares, 2 villages evacuated
About 600 residents left Sourbrodt and Butgenbach as aerial help from the Netherlands, Sweden and Czechia joined the response.
A wildfire in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve, or High Fens, in eastern Belgium spread rapidly to about 3,000 hectares on Sunday, after authorities had reported 2,000 hectares a day earlier. Officials called it the largest wildfire in Belgium in recent history. The blaze, which broke out on Friday, forced the evacuation of about 600 people from two nearby villages, mainly Sourbrodt in Waimes and Butgenbach. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed, aided by farmers bringing water tanks. The firefighting effort also relied on cross-border support through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, including helicopters from the Netherlands and Czechia and a water bomber from Sweden. Hot weather, strong winds and the marshy, wooded terrain made the fire difficult to control, although some fire fronts were reported to have been contained.