Kathmandu— Approximately 1,800 people were evacuated from their homes in western Germany on Friday after a wildfire expanded rapidly near the town of Hürtgenwald, close to the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands. The fire, which grew from 25 hectares to 300 hectares overnight, prompted a large-scale emergency response involving helicopters, army equipment, and around 300 personnel. Complicating firefighting efforts were explosions caused by wartime munitions ignited by the flames in the hilly Eifel region of North Rhine-Westphalia state.

Rapid Fire Expansion Prompts Evacuations

The wildfire initially covered 25 hectares but quickly spread to encompass 300 hectares by Friday morning, necessitating the evacuation of residents from a district within Hürtgenwald. Officials urged evacuees to only take essential personal items as they were moved to temporary shelters established in a local school and sports centre. Sabine Baldus, a resident who evacuated during the night, described the situation to broadcaster NTV, saying “It’s a really alarming feeling.” She reported seeing columns of black smoke on Thursday evening and noted that ash was falling from the sky even at her uncle’s home where she is currently staying.

Wartime Munitions Complicate Firefighting

Firefighters faced additional challenges due to the presence of unexploded wartime munitions in the area. German media reported explosions overnight as the fire ignited these remnants, hindering efforts to control the blaze. The hilly terrain of the Eifel region also presented difficulties for emergency crews who worked to cut firebreaks through the woods using tracked vehicles and aerial support.

Fire Stabilizes But Remains a Threat

District administrator Ralf Nolten announced on Friday that the fire had stabilized, and no further evacuations were immediately necessary. However, he cautioned that the situation remained precarious, stating that “we are not done yet” and warning of potential flare-ups if wind conditions change. Emergency services also responded to a separate wildfire near Moehnesee lake, successfully containing it despite challenging conditions.

Heatwave Fuels Wildfire Risk

The wildfires come amid a historic heatwave across Western Europe, with June and July marking the hottest period on record according to the EU’s global warming monitor. Germany recently experienced temperatures as high as 41.7C in late June, and forecasts predict up to 39C for western Germany on Friday. Meteorologist Ozden Terli warned that continued heat would lead to further drying of the land, even if rain were to fall, as the soil is currently too solid to absorb significant moisture.

Emergency services remain vigilant in monitoring the wildfire near Hürtgenwald and are prepared to respond should conditions worsen. The current heatwave is expected to persist into the weekend, continuing to elevate the risk of further wildfires.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.