Rain aids fight against Belgium's biggest wildfire, as blazes rip through Europe
Rain over eastern Belgium on Monday brought some relief to firefighters battling to contain the country's biggest wildfire on record, which had threatened to reach the German border.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Wildfires have ripped through Europe this summer, fueled by climate change, with successive heatwaves intensifying drought and leaving vegetation tinder-dry. Rain has brought some relief to firefighters battling Belgium's biggest wildfire, which has burned 3,000 hectares and threatened to reach the German border.
Imagine a big fire that's burning in a forest. It's so hot and dry that it's spreading really fast. Rain can help put out the fire, but it's not easy to stop. The fire can even burn underground for a long time, making it hard to fully extinguish.
Analysis
Europe's Fire Season Far From Over
Extreme fire risk has become a regular part of European summers in recent years, as hotter, drier weather caused by climate change has combined with other factors – including rural abandonment, which has left land untended and allowed flammable, dry vegetation to build up in forests – to fuel fast-spreading fires.
Fires were also raging on Monday in northeastern Spain, where a firefighter died on Sunday, and in northern Portugal's Braganca district. About 90% of wildfires are ignited by human activities, such as campfires or discarded cigarettes. Prosecutors in Belgium have opened an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
Peat Fires Can Smolder Underground for Months
The fire has penetrated the nature reserve's meters-deep peat bogs – meaning it could take months to fully extinguish. Peat fires can smolder underground, without flames, for long periods.
Europe Had Already Suffered Its Worst Fire Season on Record Last Year
Europe had already suffered its worst fire season on record last year, with more than a million hectares of land burned. Some countries, including France, have smashed through their annual records this year, with the traditional June-September fire season far from over.
Key points
- Rain has brought some relief to firefighters battling Belgium's biggest wildfire.
- The wildfire has burned 3,000 hectares and threatened to reach the German border.
- Fires have ripped through Europe this summer, fueled by climate change.
- About 90% of wildfires are ignited by human activities, such as campfires or discarded cigarettes.
- Prosecutors in Belgium have opened an investigation into the cause of the blaze.
If the rain continues to help firefighters, they might be able to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other areas. Additionally, the European Union's emergency reserve has sent reinforcement aircraft to help battle the fire.
The fire could continue to spread and get worse, especially if the weather doesn't improve. The peat bogs in the nature reserve could also make it difficult to fully extinguish the fire, and it could take months to do so.