According to a report by Reuters on August 16, a wildfire has occurred in a nature reserve in southeastern Belgium, burning over 3,000 hectares of land. The local government stated that the fire is currently spreading towards the German border.
This wildfire started on the 14th local time and is the largest wildfire in Belgian history so far. Firefighters, military personnel, and farmers from all over Belgium, as well as neighboring countries Germany and Luxembourg, have participated in the firefighting efforts. The European Union has also responded to the Belgian government's request for assistance, sending three helicopters and two fire-fighting aircraft to join the rescue operation.
The local fire department stated that the fire has been partially controlled so far, but the wildfire is still spreading towards the border between Belgium and Germany. The town of Monschau in Germany has ordered residents near the Belgian border to evacuate. The municipal government expects that the fire will not spread into Germany, but it could cause serious smoke pollution.
Wildfires in Belgium - Video Screenshot
The Belgian government has also evacuated residents near the fire area. Fire captain Karim Boualfa said, “We never expected a fire of this scale to occur in Belgium. Now, we have to face reality. I believe such incidents will become more frequent, so we must be as prepared as possible.”
Reuters quoted scientists as saying that climate change increases the likelihood of hot and dry weather, which can lead to wildfires spreading faster and burning for longer periods. In various parts of Europe, successive heatwaves have exacerbated drought conditions, making vegetation dry and flammable, thereby fueling large-scale wildfires.
