According to AFP, Belgian firefighters on August 18 (local time) launched a large-scale deployment to completely control the forest fire at the High Fens nature reserve, despite strong winds and rain hindering firefighting operations in the air.
The fire has burned down about 3,000 hectares of mudflats, pine forests and trails. Hundreds of firefighters are working day and night to control the fire.
This is considered the largest forest fire ever to occur in Belgium in recent history.
Regional government spokesman Nicolas Yernaux said that firefighters are trying to completely control the fire. Accessible areas have been controlled and cordoned off.
However, the area of fire spreading towards the German border still worries functional forces due to the rugged terrain, difficult to access. Faced with the risk of smoke spreading, people in the German border town of Monschau were asked to evacuate.
Firefighters worked overnight to narrow the distance between the east and north of the fire to 1-2km. Mr. Yernaux said that functional forces are approaching the fire control target, despite strong winds blowing towards the German border.
The swampy terrain with many layers of mud and wooden paths makes it difficult for fire trucks to access the fire points. Heavy vehicles are even at risk of sinking, forcing firefighters to rely heavily on aircraft and helicopters to extinguish the fire.
Firefighting aircraft and helicopters from Norway, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands have been dispatched to support Belgium. However, rain and low clouds have continuously interrupted aerial firefighting operations.
The entire area was covered by a thick layer of pale yellow smoke, even spreading as far as eastern France, causing local authorities to issue warnings about air pollution. In Belgium, smoke also caused residents in some residential areas to evacuate.
Belgian Interior and Security Minister Bernard Quintin said that firefighting may not be over even if the fire is controlled. Functional forces may take several weeks to continue spraying water and mooring the area to prevent the fire from rekindling.
Like many other regions in Europe, Belgium is experiencing a period of intense heat and drought in recent days. Temperatures in some areas reached 37 degrees Celsius last week, increasing the risk of forest fires.
