Belgium Battles Worst Wildfire on Record, EU Allies Provide Aid

Belgium is grappling with its most significant wildfire in modern history, which has expanded to 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres) in the High Fens park close to the German border. The blaze ignited on Friday under unclear circumstances, leading to the evacuation of residents from parts of two villages and enveloping the region in a dense yellowish smoke. Over 250 firefighters and emergency responders are on the scene, yet the fire remains uncontrolled. To assist, helicopters from the Czech Republic and Swedish water-bombing planes are set to arrive through the European Union's civil protection mechanism. This fire, affecting delicate peatlands and pine forests, marks the largest since the devastating wildfires of 1911. While no homes have been harmed, the situation is still precarious, with the fire's size doubling from 850 hectares on Saturday morning to 3,000 hectares by early Sunday.