Firefighters battle wildfire tearing through Belgian nature reserve

What the report says

Firefighters in Belgium were battling a wildfire that tore through the High Fens, the country’s largest nature reserve, on Saturday, according to BBC World News. The blaze had been burning since Friday and was described by regional officials as Belgium’s worst or largest in recent history. Authorities said about a third of the park had already burned, and there was concern the fire could spread toward nearby homes.

Residents in two nearby villages were ordered to evacuate, and a gymnasium was opened to receive people leaving their homes. Officials in Wallonia said the terrain, which includes bogs, moorland and forest, made the fire difficult to access and control, while weather conditions complicated the response. Fire crews were at times allowed to let parts of the heathland burn because reaching them was so hard, according to the report.

Belgium activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to bring in extra help. Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters were sent from other European countries, including Sweden, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Local authorities said the blaze remained out of control on Saturday afternoon.

The Belgian fire was one of several wildfires affecting Europe as a summer of extreme heat continued to strain emergency services and dry out landscapes. BBC World News also reported a separate wildfire in south-western France that forced hundreds of residents to leave their homes.