WWII-era munitions ignite in German forest fire, forcing civilian evacuation

A wildfire in Germany's Hürtgen forest — site of fierce 1944–45 battles — detonated buried World War II ordnance as flames spread. Firefighters withdrew; army tanks and helicopters secured the perimeter. Over 2,000 residents near Gey fled their homes. Unexploded munitions (still-buried explosives that failed to fire) made standard firefighting tactics impossible until military units arrived.