Belgium wildfire burns more than 2,700 hectares in the High Fens

Sunday 16 August 2026 - 12:15

By: Sahili Aya

Belgium wildfire burns more than 2,700 hectares in the High Fens

A major wildfire sweeping through Belgium’s High Fens has burned more than 2,700 hectares, prompting evacuations and triggering an international emergency response as firefighters struggle to contain the rapidly expanding blaze.

The fire, which began on Friday in the eastern part of the country, had become Belgium’s most significant recent wildfire by Saturday evening. Authorities were still unable to declare it under control as flames continued to spread across the wooded landscape near the German border.

Fire spreads rapidly across the High Fens

The blaze broke out around midday on Friday in the extensive High Fens area, a forested and largely natural region popular with hikers.

Its progression accelerated dramatically within 24 hours. Around 80 hectares had been affected by Friday evening, but the burned area reached approximately 850 hectares by Saturday morning.

By midday, the figure had doubled to around 1,650 hectares before rising again to more than 2,700 hectares later in the day.

The speed of the fire has made containment particularly difficult, with weather conditions and the availability of aircraft playing a crucial role in the emergency response.

Residents ordered to leave

As the fire advanced, authorities ordered residents in two villages to evacuate during Saturday afternoon.

The decision underlined the growing threat posed by the flames beyond the forest itself, with emergency services having to balance firefighting operations with the protection of nearby communities.

Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesperson for Belgium’s civil protection services, described the situation as difficult and heavily dependent on aerial resources.

European assistance mobilised

Belgium has called for international assistance as domestic firefighting resources have been stretched by the scale of the blaze.

Reinforcements from several Belgian regions and Germany have been deployed, while Brussels activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism to secure additional equipment and aircraft.

Two Swedish water-bombing aircraft and two helicopters were expected to join the operation, including one from the Czech Republic and another from the Netherlands.

The international deployment reflects the exceptional scale of the fire and the challenges of containing a rapidly spreading blaze across a large, wooded area.

An unprecedented recent wildfire for Belgium

The High Fens fire has emerged as one of the most serious wildfires Belgium has experienced in recent history.

The situation remained unresolved on Saturday night, with authorities unable to say when the fire would be fully contained.

The involvement of neighbouring countries and European emergency mechanisms demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing Belgian authorities. Firefighters must now combine ground operations with aerial water drops in an effort to slow the flames and protect surrounding communities.

The High Fens, known for its distinctive landscapes and importance to the region’s natural environment, has become the centre of an exceptional firefighting operation, with Belgium relying on both national and international resources to bring the disaster under control.