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Belgian firefighters battle largest wildfire
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The gist
Belgian firefighters battle largest wildfire on record, burning 3,000 hectares near German border.
The blaze is unprecedented, forcing evacuations and EU aid as climate heats up.
Background
The wildfire started on Friday in the High Fens nature reserve in eastern Belgium, fueled by a heatwave with temperatures reaching 37°C. It has become the country's biggest recorded wildfire, more than doubling the previous record set in 2011. The fire is spreading towards Germany, prompting evacuations and international assistance.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Fire breaks out in the High Fens, burning 80 hectares.
- Aug 15, 2026Fire spreads to 850 hectares by Saturday morning.
- Aug 16, 2026Fire reaches 3,000 hectares, becoming Belgium's largest on record; hundreds evacuated; EU civil protection activated.
- Aug 17, 2026Rain starts falling, aiding firefighters; 500 firefighters from Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg on the ground.
- Aug 18, 2026Firefighters say blaze no longer spreading amid improving weather, but still burning.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Liège provincial Gov. Hervé Jamar: more than 250 emergency personnel deployed, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters.
- Expert
- Nicolas Yernaux, Wallonia spokesperson: 'We're dealing with something much deeper because we have very dry soil.'
- Firefighter
- Captain Karim Bouarfa: the scale of the blaze had exceeded expectations.
Still unverified
Cause of the fire remains unknown; some reports mention possible arson but not confirmed.