Firefighters are battling the largest forest fire in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, near the Belgian border. The blaze in the Hürtgenwald forest has scorched at least 200 hectares, forcing the evacuation of the village of Gey.
Around 400 personnel from various agencies are involved in the firefighting effort, according to authorities. Five people, including four rescue workers, have been injured. Residents are unlikely to return home on Friday due to high temperatures, humidity, and wind that are fueling the flames.
State premier Hendrik Wüst has cut short his vacation and is expected to arrive on site on Saturday. He thanked emergency services for their tireless work and said efforts to contain the fire could last all weekend.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the images of the fire "shocking" and expressed gratitude to all first responders. He noted that federal police, the military, and the THW civil protection agency are assisting with logistics and coordination.
Police are investigating the cause of the fire and have appealed to the public for photos or videos taken around the time it started. Almost all forest fires are man-made, whether accidental or deliberate, officials emphasized.
The Hürtgenwald forest is the site of one of the longest and costliest battles in US military history. The Battle of Hürtgen Forest in 1944 left the area strewn with unexploded World War II munitions, which pose a risk of exploding and hamper firefighting efforts.
Specialized teams are using chainsaws, tanks, and other equipment to create a 15-meter containment line around the fire. The Bundeswehr has deployed two water transport helicopters and two rescue tanks to clear munitions and cut fire roads.
The smoke plume is visible from Bonn, 60 kilometers away, and some residents mistook the smell for a local fire, prompting calls to the fire department.
Agriculture Minister Silke Gorissen described the scene as "a bit apocalyptic" and said this could be the largest forest fire since the state was founded. She urged people to avoid forests to prevent further blazes.
The village of Gey, home to around 2,000 people, remains evacuated, with a gathering point moved to a special needs school in Düren. Firefighters warn that full containment may take days.
Source: www.dw.com