One of the largest wildfires in Belgium’s history raged uncontrollably on Monday, even though cooler temperatures and rain provided some relief to firefighting efforts. Meanwhile, in Greece, a fire briefly reignited near the main airport on the outskirts of Athens.
According to a fire ranger, the blaze in Belgium could persist for months beneath the surface, particularly in peaty soil, with the potential for sporadic flare-ups.
This summer, Europe is experiencing one of its hottest and driest seasons on record, a situation exacerbated by climate change, as highlighted by a recent study.
Belgium’s King Philippe cut short his summer break to visit emergency responders battling the wildfire in the eastern High Fens, located approximately eight kilometers from the German border, as the fire spread eastward into a pine forest on Sunday.
The fire in the Liège province has scorched an estimated 30 square kilometers, leaving behind charred trees and smoldering earth.
Three firefighters stand next to an emergency vehicle after returning from battling wildfires at the Hautes Fagnes near Eupen in Belgium on Sunday. (Valentin Bianchi/The Associated Press)
Although the fire did not significantly expand, partly due to favorable winds, it remained uncontrolled in areas that were inaccessible to ground teams, as reported by the Wallonia region in an update.
Approximately 500 firefighters received support from aircraft dispatched from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, in addition to local police utilizing drones, following a cold front that brought overnight rainfall.
Fire crews have been working to combat blazes across Europe this week, including areas in Croatia, Greece, and Italy. A fire in the coastal Croatian town of Omiš displaced residents, as EU officials indicated that extreme wildfire conditions will persist across the continent.
Regional officials reported that farmers were assisting in providing water for firefighting operations. Helicopters dropped large bags of water onto the flames as smoke rose from the forests.
Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the Wallonia regional public services, stated, “We have managed to contain the fire around the areas where the firefighters are located, but there remains a section that is completely inaccessible, where the fire continues towards Monschau in Germany.”
He noted that the overnight rain helped mitigate the blaze and reduce the likelihood of smoldering fires reigniting, although it did not significantly affect the core of the fire.
A forest ranger from the region informed The Associated Press that the fire could smolder underground for months due to the peaty soil.
“What we observe is that the grassland has burned and the fire has penetrated into the soil to a certain depth, into the peat, and it is still active,” explained Yves Pieper. “It can extend deeply into the peat layer.”
He added that the fire could continue smoldering largely undetected underground for weeks or even months before reigniting, pointing out that new flames had already emerged nearby.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for hundreds of residents as a precaution.
Veterinarian Hugues Guyvot, involved in animal rescue efforts, mentioned that larger animals managed to escape, but smaller creatures like frogs and mice likely burrowed into the ground and were likely trapped underground in the peat bogs.
“It may take decades for this area to recover from this fire,” he commented.
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At least 2 people killed as firefighters battle massive wildfires in Greece, Belgium
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See the impact of the record heat and wildfires gripping much of Europe
According to Thomas van Sante, owner of the Mont Dragon hotel near the park affected by the fire, tourists have been leaving the area and canceling their reservations.
“While there is rain now, it is insufficient,” van Sante stated.
Precautionary evacuation orders for hundreds of residents remained in effect on Monday.
Greece quickly extinguishes fire near main airport
In Greece, fire department investigators were assessing the site on the island of Salamina, where a rapidly spreading wildfire on Sunday resulted in two fatalities, nine injuries, and numerous destroyed homes. The island is located just west of Athens.
On Monday, new wildfires ignited in other areas. Firefighters, along with two aircraft and two helicopters, rushed to manage a fire in Spata, an area located east of Athens that includes the main international airport. The fire department reported that the blaze was under control within 30 minutes.
Additionally, authorities announced the arrest of an 80-year-old man in the northern town of Kavala on charges of arson for allegedly intentionally igniting dried vegetation.
This arrest is part of a total of 302 fire-related arrests made since January 1 in Greece, including 31 for intentional arson and 271 for negligence leading to fires, according to the fire department.
A Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter releases water over a forest during a wildfire on the Greek island of Skyros in the Aegean Sea on Sunday. (Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images)
In southwestern France, officials reported that a fire in the Landes region was brought under control after four days of intense firefighting, allowing about half of the evacuated residents to start returning home.
Last week, over 600 residents had to evacuate as the fire consumed approximately 17 square kilometers during an extended period of extreme heat. However, temperatures began to drop on Monday, offering some relief.
Fire in southwest of France now under control
In southwestern France, authorities confirmed that a fire in the Landes region was under control, following four days of firefighting efforts, enabling around half of the evacuated residents to return home.
More than 600 residents had evacuated last week as the fire spread across roughly 17 square kilometers amid a prolonged heatwave. Some relief arrived on Monday as temperatures started to decrease.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the government would allocate a 12 million-euro aid package to the affected regions of Gironde and Landes, which faced the worst impact from the wildfires, to assist in rebuilding homes and supporting local businesses, including in Le Porge, where 183 homes were destroyed in a major fire last month.
Wildfires in Europe have become so powerful they have created their own thunderstorm-generating weather systems. This has officials in France and Spain urging more be done to prevent the fires from starting.
In Croatia, authorities suspect four individuals of deliberately starting as many as ten fires in the vicinity of the coastal town of Zadar, a prominent tourist destination along the Adriatic coast.
The suspects were interrogated by an investigative judge after being apprehended on Saturday, following a tip from local residents.
They are believed to have ignited fires on August 14 and 15 with the intent to “endanger lives and valuable property and cause damage to numerous residents in Zadar county,” as stated by police. Details regarding a possible motive have not been disclosed, and police are currently evaluating the extent of the damage.