Belgian wildfire approaches Germany despite rain

One of Belgium’s biggest ever wildfires blazed out of control Monday even as cooler weather and rain eased conditions for firefighters, while in Greece a fire briefly flared up near the main airport on the outskirts of Athens.

Europe is sweltering through one of its hottest and driest summers on record, which a recent study said was fuelled by climate change.

Belgium’s King Philippe interrupted his summer vacation to visit emergency services fighting the wildfire in the eastern High Fens, about eight kilometres from the German border, as it spread east after moving into a pine forest on Sunday.

The fire in Liege province has burned an estimated 30 square kilometres, leaving blackened trees and smoldering ground. The scent of wood smoke drifted through the fog-drenched forest early on Monday. Dozens of firefighters were aided by aircraft sent from Norway, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands and local police with drones monitoring the fires after a much-welcomed cold front brought overnight rain.