A major wildfire swept through Belgium’s largest nature reserve on Saturday, marking the country’s worst fire in recent history, according to regional authorities. The blaze, which ignited on Friday, consumed approximately one-third of the High Fens park located near Belgium’s eastern border with Germany. Residents from two nearby villages were ordered to evacuate as officials warned of potential danger to homes in the surrounding area.
Responders faced significant challenges in containing the fire due to difficult weather conditions and the park’s challenging terrain, characterized by boggy areas, moorland, and forest. Firefighters made the tactical decision to allow portions of heathland to burn in certain sections due to access difficulties. Despite these obstacles, firefighting teams worked to prevent the flames from spreading into fir forest areas, though conditions remained unpredictable as wind direction shifted multiple times throughout the day.
International assistance was mobilized as Belgium activated the European Union’s civil protection mechanism. Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters from multiple European nations, including Sweden, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, were dispatched to aid local firefighting efforts. A nearby gymnasium was prepared to shelter evacuated residents as authorities deployed all available resources to protect populated areas.
The Belgian fire occurred amid a broader pattern of wildfires across Europe. In south-western France, approximately 650 residents evacuated their homes as a separate wildfire burned in the Landes region, with over 500 firefighters battling that blaze. Additional fires were reported in Croatia, Spain, and Serbia during the same period. European climate monitoring authorities noted that western Europe had experienced its hottest June-to-July period on record, contributing to widespread fire conditions across the continent.
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