Belgian Wildfire Edges Toward Germany as Europe Battles Heat and Blazes

A major wildfire in Belgium’s Hautes Fagnes region expanded toward the German border, burning about 30 square kilometers as cooler weather and rain temporarily eased conditions for hundreds of firefighters, aided by international air support; the King visited emergency crews and evacuations remained in place. In Greece, investigators probed a Salamina wildfire that killed two people, with arson and negligence arrests reported alongside a separate blaze near Athens that was contained. In France, the Landes blaze was brought under control after days of evacuations, with a 12‑million‑euro aid package pledged for the hardest‑hit Gironde/ Landes areas. The events underscore Europe’s blistering, drought‑driven heat—linked to climate change—and officials warned some peatlands and affected landscapes could take decades to recover.