Brussels, Aug 18 (IANS) A wildfire in Belgium’s High Fens had not spread further by Tuesday morning, but new hotspots were still emerging as firefighters worked to fully encircle the blaze, according to local authorities and media reports.
Rain and higher humidity helped slow the fire’s advance but failed to extinguish it, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW), said the burned area remained at about 3,000 hectares. Firefighters were reinforcing defensive lines on the northern and eastern fronts by clearing combustible material, creating firebreaks and felling trees.
Tuesday could prove decisive in fully encircling the fire, Yernaux said, warning that stronger winds could push the blaze across the defensive lines and threaten coniferous forests on German territory.
Two firefighters were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and taken to hospital. Both were in stable condition. Burning peat in the area continued to release large amounts of gases, including carbon monoxide.
Some residents who had been evacuated earlier were allowed to return home on Monday evening, while access restrictions remained in place in parts of the High Fens.
According to the office of the governor of Liege Province, firefighting operations continued throughout the night and the blaze remained contained. Nine aircraft were available to assist, but low cloud cover and poor visibility kept them grounded. They were expected to be deployed once conditions allowed safe operations.
Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said earlier that efforts to damp down the affected area and prevent flare-ups could continue for several weeks even after the fire is brought under control.
The Belgian Chamber of Representatives’ Interior Committee is due to hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday, during which Quintin will answer lawmakers’ questions about the wildfire response.
Smoke from the wildfire continued to have cross-border effects. Authorities in neighbouring Luxembourg said the daily PM10 limit was exceeded on Monday, while local media had earlier reported that the smoke plume had reached northeastern France.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Belgium said the wildfire was an important warning in the context of climate change and called for the restoration of damaged habitats to be made a priority.
–IANS
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