Belgium faces one of its worst fires in history

A devastating wildfire is tearing through Belgium's High Fens, a cherished nature reserve popular with hikers and bordering Germany. The blaze, which began Friday afternoon, has spread with alarming speed. What started as 80 hectares burned Friday evening ballooned to 850, and then 2,000 by Saturday evening, according to a spokesperson for Walloon authorities.

Residents in the villages of Sourbrodt and Bütgenbach received evacuation orders around 4 p.m. Saturday, with a nearby gymnasium opened as a temporary shelter. Authorities are working to protect homes, as there is a risk the fire could reach inhabited areas. A journalist on the scene described vast expanses of scorched vegetation under a thick, yellowish haze of smoke.

This inferno is now considered the largest in recent Belgian history, surpassing even a significant fire in the same area in 1911. The fire remains uncontained, and its spread is complicated by the rugged terrain, making the firefighters' task exceptionally difficult. Helicopters and water bombers are being deployed, with Belgium activating the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request aid from across the continent.

The Netherlands has already sent a helicopter, and two more are expected, along with two Swedish water bombers. European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib lamented the "climate disruption" fueling such events, noting that the fire season has started unusually early and at higher latitudes this year. The "impressive" mobilization also includes numerous farmers who have driven to the scene to assist firefighters.

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Mes collègues ont vu démarrer le feu hier (vendredi, ndlr). Il y avait des cendres qui tombaient sur les tables et puis on a demandé à nos clients de partir, pas de dessert