Gelrode (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On June 20, 2025, a fire in Kloesebos, Gelrode burned a football field-sized area. Likely caused by a campfire. Police in Aarschot are investigating; no injuries reported.
As VRT News reports, the fire in the village of Gelrode, in the Kloesebos area and in the province of Aarschot, province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, started around 4:30 PM on June 20th2025. The fire was in a heath area that quickly increased in size. It covered an area as large as a football field.
Firefighters arrived and requested a helicopter to assist. The helicopter dropped water on the fire. Ground-based firefighters built firebreaks to halt the fire’s spread. They worked a long, hard time to succeed in controlling the fire’s spread and put it out late that evening.
What caused the fire in Kloesebos, Gelrode?
No one was injured, and no homes were damaged in the fire. The police in Aarschot said people living nearby were never in danger. The wind helped by blowing the smoke and flames away from houses and the highway.
Fire officials confirmed the highway was open and no one was asked to evacuate their homes. The emergency response teams were quick to react, which helped contain the fire, they said. Fire officials will monitor that area to help ensure it does not flare up again.
According to officials, the fire in Kloesebos, Gelrode, might have been caused by a campfire that wasn’t watched or put out correctly. People found empty beer cans and cooking pans near the forest. This suggests a group had a gathering there. Some young people asked for a fire extinguisher the day before the fire. Officials think the group may have started the fire and tried to stop it when it got too big.
The police are searching for the individuals who may have set the fire in the first place. They are still evaluating what occurred. They are looking through cameras in the area to see who may have been in the area. Police say if they find the individuals responsible, they will likely face criminal issue.
