Germany wildfire forces 1,800 from homes

A wildfire in western Germany forced about 1,800 people from their homes near Huertgenwald as strong winds and heat helped the blaze spread to 300 hectares, officials said Friday.

The fire came close to homes in the village of Gey, in the Huertgenwald district near the Belgian and Dutch borders. Officials said flames had reached within 100 to 150 metres of houses, and evacuated residents had no immediate prospect of returning.

District administrator Ralf Nolten later told journalists the fire had stabilised and that further evacuations were not needed “for now”. He warned, however, that emergency crews were “not done yet” and that stronger winds could worsen the fire again.

Around 300 emergency services personnel were deployed, backed by helicopters and army vehicles, as crews cut firebreaks through woodland in the hilly Eifel region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The local government said additional emergency personnel were being requested.

Explosions were heard overnight as the fire set off World War II munitions, hampering firefighting. Temporary shelters were set up in a school and a sports centre.

Local fire brigade spokesman Peter Berndgen told Bild that dry air, strong winds and hot temperatures were creating “very unfavourable conditions” for fighting forest fires. He estimated that the operation could last several more days.

Emergency services also worked overnight on another wildfire farther east near Moehnesee lake, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. Around 100 emergency workers contained that blaze despite dangerous conditions. In Vordereifel, authorities warned residents to pack for possible evacuation as a precaution against another forest fire.

The German Weather Service warned that the heatwave would last through the weekend, with temperatures in some areas expected to reach 39C. Western Europe had its hottest June-July on record, according to the EU's global warming monitor.