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Farmers join firefighters to battle Belgium's forest fires
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Disasters & Emergencies

Farmers join firefighters to battle Belgium's forest fires

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Farmers and local residents are assisting firefighters in battling forest fires in Belgium.
  • They are using water tankers, tractors, and other equipment to douse flames and reach difficult areas.
  • The spontaneous mobilization aims to protect surrounding farms and property amidst a heatwave and drought.

Farmers and local residents have joined firefighters in Belgium to combat raging forest fires, providing crucial support beyond traditional emergency services. Bernard, a farmer, has been monitoring the fire for over 24 hours, dousing smoldering areas to prevent reignition. "We have to douse the territory. If we wait too long, the fire will start again and it will be too late," he stated.

Kevin and his son Albin arrived with a 3,000-liter water tank, unable to stand by idly. "I can't watch and wait for the fire to start again," Kevin said. Water supplies are dwindling rapidly, with large tanks emptying in under five minutes. Water is being drawn from streams and quarries to refill them.

We have to douse the territory. If we wait too long, the fire will start again and it will be too late.

— BernardA farmer describing his efforts to monitor and extinguish smoldering areas of the fire.

Beyond water, farmers are using tractors and other machinery to access hard-to-reach fire zones. This assistance is vital in drought-stricken areas where reignition remains a significant risk even after flames are extinguished. While firefighters battle the blazes, local farmers remain on watch, guarding against new outbreaks and hoping their combined efforts will protect nearby farms and property. The spontaneous mobilization comes as Belgium experiences its third heatwave, with some regions facing water usage restrictions due to the drought. The fires have already consumed 31 hectares of land.

I can't watch and wait for the fire to start again.

— KevinA local resident explaining his motivation for joining the firefighting efforts with his son.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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