High Fens, Belgium, 16 August (Brussles Morning Newspaper) Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes as a Belgium wildfire sweeps across the High Fens, burning around 3,000 hectares of the protected landscape and stretching emergency services close to the German border.
The fire began on Friday and spread quickly through dry heathland and peat. By Sunday, it had become Belgium’s largest wildfire on record, according to Reuters. Firefighters are now trying to hold the eastern edge of the blaze before it can move towards communities across the frontier.
Hundreds leave homes as flames spread through High Fens
Around 600 residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach were evacuated after changing winds sent smoke towards populated areas.
Despite the scale of the blaze, authorities said on Sunday that no homes had been lost. The immediate concern remained the direction of the fire and the possibility that shifting winds could put further communities at risk.
The situation has also put neighbouring Germany on alert. Monschau, just across the border, advised residents to be ready to evacuate as heavy smoke moved into the area. The fire itself had not crossed the frontier by Sunday.
Conditions on the ground have made the operation particularly difficult. The High Fens contains peat bogs and extensive heathland, where fire can prove stubborn and difficult to extinguish, while parts of the terrain are challenging for emergency vehicles to reach.
European crews join major firefighting operation
More than 250 emergency personnel have been deployed, bringing together firefighters, police, military personnel and civil protection teams.
Belgian crews have been reinforced by firefighters from Germany and Luxembourg, while aircraft from several European countries have joined the effort from above.
Helicopters from Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have been used, and Sweden sent two water-bombing aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The international response has become increasingly important as crews work across a large fire front while protecting evacuated villages.
Authorities hope cooler weather will help contain fire
A Walloon administration spokesperson told Reuters that crews were concentrating on the section of the fire moving towards Germany and maintaining defensive lines around evacuated communities.
Officials were hoping that cooler and more humid conditions would give firefighters some relief after days of intense heat and extremely dry conditions.
Belgium had experienced temperatures of around 37C before the fire, leaving vegetation dry and highly vulnerable to flames.
The Belgium wildfire has already eclipsed the major High Fens fire of 2011, which burned around 1,400 hectares. The latest blaze has affected more than twice that area.
Record fire comes during punishing European summer
Belgium is not facing the danger alone. Wildfires have broken out across several parts of Europe during a period of severe heat and drought, forcing evacuations and placing additional pressure on national firefighting services.
The High Fens emergency is particularly significant because of the environmental importance of the reserve. The landscape forms part of a wider protected area containing forests, heathland, wetlands and peat habitats.
The fire is therefore not only an emergency for nearby communities but also a serious challenge for the conservation of one of Belgium’s best-known natural landscapes.
Residents wait as crews defend border communities
For those forced to leave Waimes and Bütgenbach, the most pressing question is when it will be safe to return.
Authorities have not announced a general timetable. Decisions will depend on the behaviour of the fire, wind direction, smoke and whether containment lines continue to hold.
The cross-border response also underlines how quickly a large wildfire can move beyond the capacity of a single national emergency service. Aircraft, specialist teams and firefighters from across Europe are now supporting Belgium’s effort.
What happens next?
Firefighters are expected to remain focused on containing the eastern fire front and protecting communities near the German border. Cooler and more humid weather could improve conditions, but crews still face the task of securing a vast burned area and dealing with remaining hotspots.
Residents have been urged to stay away from affected areas and follow local emergency instructions while the Belgium wildfire remains active.
