King Filip has visited the provincial crisis centre in Vottem as a huge wildfire continues in the High Fens nature reserve. The blaze, which began on Friday, has destroyed swathes of the reserve.
The King was met by Walloon minister-president Adrien Dolimont, Interior minister Bernard Quintin, deputy prime minister Jan Jambon and Hervé Jamar, governor of the province of Liège. Jambon is representing prime minister Bart De Wever, who is in Japan on holiday.
The emergency services and Jamar hope the fire will be brought under control “today, tomorrow or on Wednesday”. Once it has been contained, “the groundwork” will begin, as the fire could continue to spread through the peat and tree stumps for months to come.
The fire service’s work was hampered on Monday by fallen trees on the roads and damaged paths. The fire front that was advancing towards the German border is now under control in the areas accessible to the fire service.
