SOURBROD, Belgium — A significant wildfire, one of the largest in Belgium’s history, raged out of control on Monday, despite some cooler temperatures and rain that had provided relief for firefighters working in a remote, hilly region. Meanwhile, in Greece, a fire ignited briefly near the main airport in the Athens area.
This summer has been recorded as the hottest and driest for Europe, and a recent study attributes this to climate change.
Belgium’s King Philippe cut short his summer break to visit emergency responders on Sunday, who were combating a forest fire in eastern Hyfens, located about 8 kilometers from Germany’s border. This wildfire, which entered the pine forest, was moving eastward.
The fire in Liege had consumed an estimated 30 square kilometers (around 12 square miles), leaving behind charred trees and still-smoldering ground.
According to recent updates from Wallonia, the fire had not significantly expanded due to favorable winds, but it remained uncontrolled in some inaccessible areas.
About 500 firefighters received assistance from aircraft from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, alongside local police drones, after a cold front brought some rain. Local farmers also contributed by supplying water for the firefighting efforts. As smoke billowed from the forest, helicopters dropped large bags of water onto the flames.
“Firefighters have succeeded in dousing the fire in certain areas, yet there are still spots that remain totally inaccessible, and the fire persists in the Monschau area in Germany,” stated Nicolas Ernault, a spokesperson for Wallonia’s public service.
He noted that while the overnight rain helped with some parts of the fire, it didn’t really affect the main fire’s core. “Where it’s burning, I can’t tell if it’s truly making a difference,” he said.
Evacuation orders were still in effect for several hundred residents as a precaution.
Veterinarian Hugues Gaiveau, involved in rescuing animals, mentioned that larger animals managed to escape, yet smaller ones, like frogs and rats, likely perished in the peat bogs.
“It’s going to take decades for the area to recover from this,” he expressed.
In Greece, investigators from the fire department were examining a site on Salamina island, where a rapidly spreading fire erupted on Sunday, claiming two lives, injuring nine others, and damaging several homes close to the Greek capital.
New blazes sparked elsewhere on Monday, prompting dozens of firefighters and two helicopters to respond promptly in the Spata region, which is east of Athens and includes the main international airport. Fortunately, they managed to extinguish this fire within half an hour.
Additionally, authorities reported the arrest of an 80-year-old man on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting dry vegetation ablaze in northern Kabala. Since January 1, the fire department has made 302 fire-related arrests in Greece, including 31 for intentional arson and 271 for negligence.
Meanwhile, in southwestern France, officials confirmed that a fire in the Landes region was extinguished after four continuous days of firefighting, allowing about half of the evacuated residents to return home.
Last week, over 600 residents had to evacuate as the fire ravaged nearly 17 square kilometers (6.6 square miles) during a heatwave, but temperatures began to drop on Monday, offering some relief.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecorne announced that a 12 million euro ($13.9 million) aid package would be allocated to the Gironde and Landes regions, which were hit hardest by wildfires. This funding aims to help rebuild homes and support affected businesses, especially in Le Polge, where a massive fire destroyed 183 homes last month.
In Croatia, authorities are investigating four individuals suspected of intentionally igniting up to ten fires around Zadar, a popular tourist destination on the Adriatic coast.
These suspects were apprehended following a tip from a local resident and were subsequently interrogated by a preliminary judge.
According to police, they’re thought to have started the fires on August 14 and 15 with the intention of endangering lives and causing significant damage to the properties of numerous residents in Zadar province. Details regarding any possible motive have not yet been disclosed.
Law enforcement is currently assessing the extent of the damage.
