The flames that broke out on Friday in the High Fens nature park in western Belgium are moving toward Germany, while emergency crews work to stop their spread.
The fire has so far burned around 30,000 hectares of land. Because of the danger, hundreds of residents in areas near the blaze have been ordered to leave their homes.
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Despite efforts by crews throughout the night, the fire has not been brought under control. According to the authorities, it is the largest fire ever recorded in Belgium.
The situation remains difficult to manage. The intensity of the flames weakened overnight, but frequent changes in wind direction have made the fire’s movement unpredictable and hampered efforts to contain it.
“Conditions are complex. Despite the lower intensity, the winds changed direction several times overnight,” local authorities said.
Firefighters from across Belgium have been deployed in the operation, alongside teams from Germany and Luxembourg. The army and farmers are also assisting by building firebreaks intended to slow the advance of the flames.
Emergency forces are focusing primarily on the part of the fire advancing toward Germany. The authorities expect lower temperatures and higher humidity in the coming hours to help bring the situation under control.
The response is also being complicated by the terrain, as the fire has spread through sensitive peat bogs and pine forests. These conditions make the blaze more difficult to extinguish and increase the risk of it spreading further.
The European Union has offered support to Belgium by sending three helicopters and two firefighting aircraft from the Czech Republic, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Efforts to extinguish the flames are continuing, while the authorities closely monitor the fire’s direction and the threat it poses to populated areas near the German border.
