Hürtgenwald forest fire contained overnight, no further spread reported

Firefighters have successfully contained a forest fire in Hürtgenwald, North Rhine-Westphalia, preventing its spread overnight. The strategy employed by emergency services proved effective, allowing them to hold the fire's flanks.

"Our strategy for the night has paid off," stated District Fire Chief Karlheinz Eisnar early this morning. "We were able to hold the flanks." He attributed the success largely to the calm weather, noting that there was very little wind, and at times, it was completely still. This lack of wind was crucial in preventing the flames from advancing.

The fire, which ignited on Thursday afternoon in the Eifel region, has consumed approximately 300 hectares of forest, an area equivalent to about 420 football fields. The flames had advanced dangerously close to the hamlet of Gey, prompting the fire department to issue an evacuation order for the settlement early Friday morning. As of the report, the flames remained 150 to 200 meters away from Gey.

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Our strategy for the night has paid off. We were able to hold the flanks.