Firefighters push to encircle Belgian wildfire

SOURBRODT: Firefighters launched a potentially decisive push on Tuesday to encircle Belgium's largest wildfire in a century, despite wind and rain hampering air support operations over the High Fens nature reserve. The blaze charring the vast expanse of boggy peatlands, pine trees and hiking trails grew over the weekend — 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) — with hundreds of firefighters working to wrestle it under control. 'We are trying to definitively encircle the fire today,' regional government spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux said.
In areas where firefighters could operate, he confirmed the fire was 'under control and contained.' But a hard-to-access front towards the German border remains a concern — with residents in the border town of Monschau already under evacuation orders due to the smoke hazard. 'We're talking about one or two kilometres, and we're on the verge of achieving it,' Yernaux said, despite 'sustained winds' blowing towards the German border.
Water-bombing aircraft from several countries have been deployed — with two Norwegian helicopters the latest to fly in on Monday night — but they have been repeatedly grounded by low cloud and rain. There are also aircraft from Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. — AFP