Europe's Burning Legacy: Wildfires Uncover Hidden Dangers The current European wildfire season has brought into sharp focus a long dormant threat lurking beneath the continent's scorched landscapes: buried explosives from past wars, detonated by the intense heat and flames.
Firefighters navigating burning forests are often surrounded by rusting shells and mines, evoking a mix of awe, respect, and trepidation.
Unexploded ordnance is not unusual in Europe, particularly in Belgium where the practice of "the iron harvest" has become an annual ritual.