Belgian Wildfire Expands to 3,000 Hectares, Evacuates Villages

A wildfire described as Belgium’s largest in recent history has more than doubled in size in 24 hours.

Hundreds of firefighters spent a third day battling flames that tore through the country’s biggest nature reserve, forcing the evacuation of two nearby villages.

Local farmers supplied water tankers while aircraft from Sweden and the Netherlands deployed water-bombing and helicopter support.

High heat and the park’s challenging bog-like terrain hampered efforts to extinguish the blaze.

The fire grew from 80 hectares on Friday to 850 hectares early Saturday, then consumed 3,000 hectares by early Sunday, according to AFP.

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said two fronts heading toward Jalhay and Monschau were under control, though conditions remain difficult and aerial assistance is still critical.

The blaze is part of a wave of European wildfires amid a record-hot summer, with incidents reported in France, Croatia, Spain and Serbia.