The largest forest fire ever recorded in Germany's western state of North Rhine-Westphalia has been brought under control after a days-long firefighting operation, local authorities said on Sunday.
The blaze burned around 300 hectares of the Hürtgenwald forest in the mountainous Eifel region, Düren district administrator Ralf Nolten said.
The number of emergency personnel deployed to the area has now been significantly reduced. However, a reconnaissance helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera continues to monitor isolated hotspots for signs they could reignite, while two firefighting helicopters remain on site.
There were no longer any obvious flames on Sunday, according to the Düren district authorities. Firefighters have also created a firebreak around the entire affected area to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
Up to 1,800 emergency personnel had been involved in the operation at its peak. Several hundred remained deployed on Sunday.
Around 2,000 people in the Hürtgenwald district of Gey were forced to leave their homes overnight into Friday as the flames advanced to within 250 metres of properties.
The village itself escaped the flames, and residents were allowed to begin returning home on Saturday evening. By Sunday morning, around two-thirds of those evacuated had returned, according to local authorities.
Germany's national weather service DWD has forecast some rain for the Eifel region in the coming days, although no significant amounts are expected.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze.
North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wüst and other state government officials have visited Hürtgenwald to assess the situation.
State Interior Minister Herbert Reul and Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen have said human error could have played a role.
