Belgium turns to European air support as wildfire rages near German border

Belgium called on European partners for aerial support on Sunday as firefighters fought to contain the country’s largest wildfire in more than a century, raging through a remote nature reserve near the German border. © AFP

Belgium called in aerial reinforcements from across Europe on Sunday as firefighters battled the country’s largest wildfire in more than a century, with flames spreading rapidly through a difficult-to-reach nature reserve near the German border.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel worked through the night in the High Fens nature park, where authorities said conditions remained challenging after the affected area more than doubled in the space of 24 hours.