3,000 hectares up in flames: Belgium battles its biggest wildfire on record

Belgium’s biggest wildfire on record continued to spread towards the German border on Sunday, as firefighters backed by Dutch helicopters, the army and teams from neighbouring countries battled a blaze that has already scorched around 3,000 hectares in the High Fens nature reserve.Firefighters were concentrating on the advancing front of the fire in eastern Belgium, while a defensive line protecting evacuated villages was holding, according to Belgian authorities. Residents who were evacuated on Saturday were nevertheless told not to return as crews continued efforts to contain the flames.The scale of the blaze has prompted an international response, with Belgium receiving emergency assistance from across Europe. The European Union deployed three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft from around Europe on Saturday after Brussels requested reinforcements.The fire, which began on Friday in the High Fens, has become Belgium’s largest wildfire on record.