Rain brings respite as Belgium battles worst wildfire in a century

Published Aug 17, 08:58 AM UTC

Rainfall on Monday provided much-needed relief to firefighters battling Belgium's largest wildfire since 1911, which has scorched 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) of the High Fens nature reserve near the German border. The blaze, which began on Friday for unknown reasons, prompted evacuations in two Belgian villages and the German border town of Monschau. Around 500 firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft from Sweden and Dutch military helicopters, as well as local farmers with tractors, have been working to contain the fire. The smoke has been detected as far as eastern France, triggering an air-pollution alert. While the fire is no longer advancing toward Germany, officials caution it is not yet under control. The wildfire is part of a broader European heatwave and drought that has fueled devastating fires across France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain.