Europe wildfires trigger explosions of old wartime bombs and mines

Wildfires burning across parts of Europe have exposed a hidden danger beneath scorched ground, with explosions reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Emergency crews have been forced to contend not only with flames but also with old wartime bombs and mines uncovered by the heat. In one case, a bomb-disposal team was sent to a forest in Limburg province after fire threatened an area linked to fierce fighting in 1944.

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Officials and local reports said the fires have already set off detonations in several countries, underlining the scale of the risk. In eastern Belgium's Liege province, governor Herve Jamar said there had been "a few sporadic detonations" and that emergency crews were adjusting their response to account for munitions buried in the fire zone. He said no firefighters were in danger.

In France, a major wildfire outside Bordeaux uncovered a cache of what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition. The fires are moving through areas where unexploded ordnance has long been known to remain from the two world wars. In Belgium's High Fens, a dense peat-bog forest near the German border, booby traps, bombs and mines were laid during World War II and have remained a hazard for decades.

A local historian said the first years after Germany's surrender in 1945 were still deadly in the area, with six civilians killed by munitions in the first four years after the war. The current fires have revived that risk by exposing material that had been buried and stable for years. The wider significance goes beyond the immediate firefighting challenge.

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Europe's wildfire season has been intensified by weather conditions that have left vegetation dry and highly flammable, increasing the chance that flames will reach old military debris in forests and open land. A study issued last month by the World Weather Attribution group said heavy rains in January helped vegetation grow before summer heat, drought, low humidity and strong winds created conditions favourable for fire. That combination has now created a cross-border safety problem involving both climate-driven fires and wartime remnants.

The incident also highlights how the legacy of the First and Second World Wars continues to affect land management and emergency planning in parts of Europe. Forests, peat bogs and former battle areas can still contain unexploded shells, mines and other ordnance, especially in regions that saw heavy fighting. When wildfires pass through those areas, crews may need to slow operations, change tactics or bring in specialist disposal teams, adding complexity to an already dangerous response.

What remains unclear is the full number of explosions linked to the fires and whether more ordnance will be uncovered as the blazes continue. Authorities have not said how much ammunition may still be buried in the affected areas, or how long specialist teams will need to remain on site. The immediate focus is on containing the fires and keeping crews safe, while officials assess whether other fire-hit regions may face the same risk.

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