German border town evacuated as Belgium's worst wildfire spreads toward frontier

Belgium is battling its largest wildfire in recorded history, burning across the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes) nature reserve near the German border. The fire broke out on Friday, August 15, and doubled in size within 24 hours, scorching more than 3,000 hectares by Sunday. The blaze threatens to spread into Germany, prompting evacuation orders for residents of the German border town of Monschau.

What's Happening

• The fire, fueled by extreme heat and drought conditions across Europe, has already forced 600+ residents to evacuate on the Belgian side
• EU emergency services deployed three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Czech Republic on Saturday
• Across the border in Germany's Hürtgen forest, a separate wildfire forced around 2,000 evacuations from the village of Gey, though most residents were able to return home by Saturday evening
• Emergency responders from Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg are working together to contain the blaze

Officials note that the peatland and pine forests of the nature reserve make the fire particularly difficult to combat. The last comparable fire occurred in 1911 during a similar period of extreme heat and drought.

For expats: If you live or work near the German-Belgian border, check local evacuation alerts and air quality warnings. The smoke pollution poses respiratory risks. Keep your travel documents and cash accessible in case of evacuation orders. Monitor local news and regional transport disruptions, as the fire may affect traffic across the border.

Sources

• The Local — German border town evacuated as Belgium battles wildfire
• Euronews — Europe battles wildfires, Belgium's largest on record
• Al Jazeera — Belgium's largest wildfire heads toward German border