Belgium Battles Massive Wildfire Near German Border

Water‑bombing aircraft and farmers’ tractors joined forces on Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium’s largest modern‑day wildfire, which has scorched vast swaths of a hard‑to‑reach nature reserve near the German border. The blaze, which first broke out in early June, has expanded across more than 1,200 hectares of mixed woodland and heathland, threatening the region’s biodiversity and nearby settlements.

The firefighting effort has involved a fleet of 12 water‑bombing aircraft, each carrying up to 1,000 litres of water, and a convoy of 30 tractors equipped with water‑towing rigs and fire‑fighting equipment. Local farmers, many of whom own the surrounding farmland, have provided the tractors and crews to assist ground crews in delivering water to inaccessible areas. The Belgian Fire Service, together with the Dutch and German border authorities, has coordinated the operation, deploying over 200 firefighters and monitoring the fire’s spread with satellite imagery.

While the fire is now partially contained, authorities warn that strong winds could reignite smoldering hotspots. The operation continues through the night, with plans to deploy additional aircraft and ground crews if conditions worsen. The incident underscores the growing challenge of managing large wildfires in Europe’s increasingly dry climate.