EU aircraft join battle as Belgiums record wildfire scorches nature reserve, forces evacuations

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EU aircraft join battle as Belgiums record wildfire scorches nature reserve, forces evacuations
EU sends aircraft to Belgium as wildfire scorches nature reserve near German border
ContinuationWildfires kill woman in Canada, force thousands to flee as blazes rage in France and Spain
Firefighters in Belgium battled the country’s worst wildfire in modern history on Sunday as the blaze in the High Fens nature reserve scorched more than 3,000 hectares, up from 80 hectares when it began on Friday, according to local authorities .
The European Union deployed three helicopters and two water bomber aircraft after Belgium requested emergency reinforcements, with the fire spreading rapidly in the fragile peatlands and pine forests near the German border . By Sunday morning, the fire had forced the evacuation of at least 600 people from villages including Sourbrodt and Buetgenbach, while a gymnasium in Malmedy was opened as a shelter .
In neighboring Germany, the town of Monschau, just 2 kilometers from the border, urged around 5,000 residents to prepare for possible evacuations as the fire advanced to within 3 kilometers of the frontier . Authorities warned of significant smoke exposure and advised some residents to leave their homes voluntarily due to health risks .
The rugged terrain has hindered firefighting efforts, with local officials stating that emergency services were unable to tackle the fire at close range using standard methods . The Belgian Red Cross provided food, water, and rest facilities for evacuees, with Romane Bouhaben noting the focus on supporting vulnerable individuals .
David Rodolfs, a restaurant owner in the Waimes area, described the scene as the fire broke out on Friday: “You can’t see a thing anymore, there’s smoke everywhere. There was ash falling onto the tables, and then we asked our customers to leave. No dessert, everyone had to go” .
The fire, which local mayors called the worst in Belgian history, has already destroyed over 2,700 hectares of the High Fens, a key nature reserve considered one of the country’s green lungs . Dutch and other EU aircraft joined the response, with two Dutch helicopters deployed to assist in the difficult terrain .
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