Hundreds evacuated as wildfire spreads in western Germany
Around 1,800 people had to leave their homes in western Germany overnight as a wildfire spread nearby, officials said on Aug. 14, with helicopters and army equipment deployed to help battle the flames.
A district of the town of Huertgenwald near the Belgian and Dutch borders was evacuated after the fire expanded from 25 hectares (around 60 acres) to 300 hectares by Aug. 14 morning.
Residents were urged to "take only the most important personal items" with them as the fire draws nearer, a spokeswoman for the local district told AFP.
Around 300 emergency services personnel have been sent to try to put the fire out, the spokeswoman said, and two army tanks were also helping the effort.
