Wildfire forces evacuation of 30 residents in Monschau, Germany

Residents of Monschau, an idyllic half-timbered town and tourist destination in Germany's Eifel region, were evacuated late Sunday evening as a wildfire raged in the nearby High Fens nature reserve. The precautionary measure affected about 30 people across 17 homes, according to the town's administration.

"If the wind turns, we will definitely have heavy smoke exposure," said Franz-Karl Boden, the deputy mayor. He explained that a shift in wind could push the flames eastward, prompting the fire department's readiness to respond if the fire encroaches further. Boden deemed the late-night evacuation a necessary step, stating, "Better now than in the middle of the night."

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If the wind turns, we will definitely have heavy smoke exposure.

An emergency shelter was set up in a school in Simmerath for those displaced. While most evacuees found refuge with relatives or friends, a few are utilizing the school shelter. The fire department is continuously assessing the situation, with police present in the affected streets. A Reuters reporter observed one family leaving with a horse in a trailer, while another family engaged in discussions with officials before departing.

Meanwhile, firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze, which spans into eastern Belgium. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin told RTL on Sunday evening that the primary challenge is the strong, unpredictable wind. The fire department is prepared to act if the flames draw nearer, aiming to manage the situation proactively.

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Better now than in the middle of the night.