Major forest fire devastes Belgium’s High Fens reserve
One-third of the High Fens reserve has burned; two villages evacuated and international aerial support has been deployed.
A large forest fire is burning through the High Fens (Hautes-Fagnes) nature reserve in eastern Belgium, destroying roughly one third of the protected area, authorities said.
Fire spreads near German border
Officials ordered the evacuation of residents from two nearby villages after warning that flames could reach homes. The blaze remains out of control, with weather and the mix of wetlands and forested terrain making suppression operations difficult.
Aircraft and helicopters equipped with water tanks have been mobilised from across Europe to assist firefighters on the ground. Crews are concentrating on stopping the advance where the reserve approaches populated areas.
Regional authorities described the incident as the worst such fire in the country’s recent history. "There is a risk that the fire could reach houses, but we are using all available resources to protect them," Nikola Jerno said.
The fire is one of several blazes burning across Europe on the same day, including a separate wildfire in southwestern France that forced hundreds of residents to abandon their homes.
Photo: Printskrin
