Overview
- The Hürtgenwald blaze, which began on Friday, has consumed roughly 300 hectares and is described by the state as the largest forest fire in North Rhine-Westphalia history.
- The Ortsteil Gey was evacuated during the worst of the fire but residents were allowed to return late Saturday after authorities said the immediate residential danger eased.
- Five people were hurt during operations, including an older resident with heart problems and four emergency workers with minor injuries.
- About 1,400 personnel have fought the fire with daytime helicopter water drops, Bundeswehr Bergepanzer cutting firebreaks and THW lighting for night shifts while night flights remain suspended for safety.
- A separate, much larger peat fire in Belgium’s Hohes Venn has burned thousands of hectares, prompted evacuations and EU mutual aid, and officials warn smouldering peat and wartime munitions will make full extinguishment and follow-up work take days to weeks.