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EnvironmentForest fire rages 500 meters from Hürtgenwald, Germany, declared major incident
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A forest fire near Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has burned approximately 25 hectares (35 football fields) and is raging only 500 meters from the district of Gey. The municipality has declared a 'major incident' and warned residents to avoid the areas of Kleinhau, Gey, and the L25 road. The B399 highway is also closed. Firefighters have been battling the blaze since Thursday afternoon, with helicopter support until nightfall. No injuries have been reported. The fire is not currently spreading toward houses, but officials warn that a wind shift could bring flames closer to residents. The districts of Gey (pop. 1,800) and Großhau (pop. 500) are threatened. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Source report
A forest fire rages just a few hundred meters from residential buildings near Hürtgenwald (Kreis Düren). Source: Nord-West-Media TV/dpa
A forest fire is burning just a few hundred meters from residential buildings near Hürtgenwald in Kreis Düren. According to the municipality, approximately 25 hectares of forest are in flames — an area equivalent to about 35 football fields. Local authorities have declared a "major incident."
Evacuation Warnings and Road Closures
The municipality has issued warnings to the public, urging people to avoid the areas of Kleinhau, Gey, and the L25. The B399, which runs along the affected forest area, is also closed to traffic.
Fire Proximity and Wind Concerns
According to a police spokesperson, the flames are currently only about 500 meters from the district of Gey. While the fire is not spreading further toward houses at present, officials warn that a shift in wind direction could bring the flames closer to residents. The district of Großhau is also reported to be threatened.
Firefighting Efforts
Numerous firefighters have been battling the blaze since Thursday afternoon. A helicopter was deployed to drop extinguishing water over the forest but was unable to continue after dark. Firefighting operations continued through the night.
No injuries have been reported so far, the spokesperson confirmed. The cause of the fire remains unclear at this time.
Background on Hürtgenwald
Hürtgenwald is located in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the border with Belgium. The district of Gey is home to around 1,800 people, while Großhau has approximately 500 residents. In total, nearly 9,000 people live in the municipality in the Eifel region.
dpa/saha
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
Major Forest Fire Forces Evacuation of 1,800 in Hürtgenwald, Germany