- Belgium's King Philippe interrupted his summer vacation to visit emergency services fighting the wildfire in the eastern High Fens, about eight kilometres from the German border.
- The fire in Belgium has burned an estimated 30 square kilometres, leaving blackened trees and smouldering ground.
- Precautionary evacuation orders remained in effect for hundreds of residents.
- The fire remained out of control in areas inaccessible to ground crews, with a spokesperson stating, "We managed to maintain the fire where the firemen are situated, but there's still a place which is totally inaccessible, where the fire is still going on in the direction of Monschau in Germany."
- Overnight rains helped contain the blaze, but did not significantly impact the centre of the fire.
- The fire can continue smoldering largely unseen underground for weeks or months before flaring up again.
Belgium is facing its largest wildfire in history, with an estimated 30 square kilometres burned in Liège province. The fire, which has devastated the landscape, prompted King Philippe to visit emergency services on the front lines, highlighting the severity of the situation.2
The wildfire, located in the eastern High Fens near the German border, has been challenging for firefighters due to its spread into inaccessible areas. "We managed to maintain the fire where the firemen are situated, but there's still a place which is totally inaccessible, where the fire is still going on in the direction of Monschau in Germany," said Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the Wallonia regional public services.
Despite cooler weather and overnight rains aiding firefighting efforts, the fire remains largely out of control. Yernaux noted that the rain helped contain the blaze but did not significantly impact the fire's center. He warned that the fire could smolder underground for weeks or months, potentially flaring up again.7
Precautionary evacuation orders are in effect for hundreds of residents, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the wildfire. "New flames had already appeared nearby," Yernaux added, indicating the fire's unpredictable nature.3
“The fire remains out of control in inaccessible areas, with a spokesperson noting, "We managed to maintain the fire where the firemen are situated, but there's still a place which is totally inaccessible." Precautionary evacuation orders are still in effect for hundreds of residents as the fire can smolder underground for weeks or months.”
