Belgian Firefighters Push to Contain High Fens Wildfire
Around 500 firefighters and volunteers are battling a 3,000-hectare blaze, while aerial crews from five countries are grounded by wind and rain.
- On Tuesday, Belgian firefighters launched a decisive push to encircle the massive wildfire burning in the High Fens nature reserve, despite unfavorable weather hampering air support operations.
- Like much of Europe, Belgium experienced intense heat and drought last week, creating conditions for the wildfire to grow since Friday to 3,000 hectares, the country's largest blaze since 1911.
- Over 500 firefighters and emergency crews battle the blaze with local farmers from Waremme using tractors to transport water from a nearby lake. King Philippe visited Monday to acknowledge the Herculean effort.
- Regional government spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux confirmed the fire is "under control and contained" in accessible areas, though a hard-to-access front toward the German border remains a concern with Monschau residents under evacuation orders.
- Firefighting chief Philipp Krueger warned crews face "strong winds" and a challenging "new situation" on Tuesday, while Interior Minister Bernard Quintin noted recovery could take "several weeks" even once the fire is controlled.
92 Articles
92 Articles
The Moor Hohes Venn in Belgium continues to burn, the erasure takes weeks. Holger Sticht explains the importance of bogs for the climate and how rewetting works.
The fire in the high moor of the Belgian High Venn has frightened Germany. Still glimmer deep under the ground gluten nests, which can break out at any time. Also in Germany's bogs the fire danger is apparently very large.
Around 3,000 hectares of nature have been destroyed, but in Monschau the evacuation in the district of Kalterherberg is finished. Residents are allowed back. And the rain plays the fire brigade in the cards.
Some 3,000 hectares of nature have been destroyed, but the evacuation in the district of Kalterherberg has ended. Residents are allowed to return. According to the authorities, the large fire in the High Venn in Belgium has been encircled by firefighters - but there is still no complete warning. It is a "positive development on site", said the governor of the Belgian province of Liège, Hervé Jamar. Armed forces have been fighting the fire in the…
Relief in Kalterherberg: The evacuations for the Monschauer district are lifted, even in Belgium residents can return to their homes. Nevertheless, the location in the forest fire area Hohes Venn remains complicated.
After days of evacuation, the people in Kalterherberg return. Authorities report easy relaxation in the High Venn.
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