Belgium wildfire expected to last weeks as strong winds approach

Wildfires continue to rage in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve, with firefighters working through the night to contain the blaze. The fire line was approximately 2.3 kilometers from the German border as of Monday evening. A significant contingent of 240 German emergency personnel, including firefighters, the Technical Relief Agency, rescue services, and police, have been deployed in multiple shifts.

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We are now preparing for a completely new situation.

Firefighting efforts face a challenging forecast, with strong southwesterly winds expected to create a "completely new situation," according to Monschau's fire chief Philipp Krüger. However, the German Weather Service anticipates more rain in Monschau on Tuesday compared to the previous day. Favorable weather conditions had slowed the fire's spread on Monday, but Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin cautioned that the fire remains unpredictable. Even if brought under control, extensive water application will be necessary to prevent flare-ups, and cleanup operations are expected to take weeks.

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Even if it has been brought under control, the area must be flooded to prevent it from flaring up again.

The High Fens wildfire is one of the largest in Belgian history. On Sunday evening, about 30 residents in Monschau-Kalterherberg were evacuated as a precaution due to the fire's proximity to the German border. No further evacuations are currently planned. Amidst rising wildfire concerns, politicians are debating preventative strategies. Karl-Heinz Banse, president of the German Firefighters Association, emphasized the need for greater public awareness regarding risky behaviors in forests, such as campfires, illegal grilling, and discarded cigarettes, which can trigger large fires. He also called for enhanced firefighter training in wildfire suppression. Banse expressed skepticism about the feasibility of restricting access to forests during high fire risk periods, noting the practical difficulties in enforcing such bans.

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It would be important to sensitize people more strongly to how dangerous certain behavior in the forest can be – for example, in the news, in schools, or via social media.