Germany orders partial evacuation of border town due to fire

Due to the massive forest fire in eastern Belgium, German authorities have ordered an evacuation in parts of the border town of Monschau in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany.

Monschau announced late Sunday evening on its website that the current situation necessitates the immediate evacuation of several streets. Residents were instructed to leave affected homes immediately. An emergency shelter was set up at a local high school. The measure affected 17 homes and up to 30 people.

Earlier on Sunday, authorities in Monschau stated there were no indications that the fire would spread to Germany and that evacuations were not currently necessary.

On Sunday afternoon, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Clerfayt told RTBF that firefighters had managed to contain parts of the fire, including the front advancing toward Monschau.

However, he noted that the winds were “completely unpredictable, shifting 360 degrees within a single day,” adding that the direction of the fire’s spread remained uncertain.

Belgium has received support from several European countries, including two firefighting helicopters from the Netherlands and two water-dropping aircraft from Sweden. Local authorities stated that firefighters from Germany and Luxembourg were already on site.

According to the Liège province, the fire has not yet been brought under control. Approximately 500 emergency personnel and 120 vehicles are participating in firefighting efforts.