Belgium is battling one of the worst wildfires in its history. Over 2,700 hectares have been scorched across the Fagnes, a major wooded reserve in the east of the country, forcing evacuations and prompting the deployment of emergency European civil protection reinforcements.
The Escalation in the Fagnes
The fire broke out on Friday in the middle of the day within the Fagnes, a sprawling forested area popular with hikers near Germany. According to Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the Walloon authorities, the situation deteriorated due to difficult and hilly terrain that complicated the work of firefighters. From 80 hectares burned late Friday, the blaze expanded to 850 hectares before surging to 2,700 hectares by Saturday evening.
The proximity of the flames to residential areas triggered defensive measures. Local authorities issued evacuation orders for two regional villages as smoke blanketed the landscape. “We can’t see anything, there’s smoke everywhere,” said David Rodolfs, a 38-year-old local restaurateur near Waimes. He noted that ash was falling on tables on Friday before clients were urged to evacuate, describing the unfolding scenario as extremely sad.
Historical Precedent and Climate Factors
This disaster marks the largest wildfire in recent Belgian history. The last major fire to ravage the zone occurred in 1911. Meteorological conditions fueled the spread; Belgium endured a new episode of strong heat, with temperatures reaching 37°C on Friday. Furthermore, this incident coincides with a separate wildfire just dozens of kilometers away in western Germany, which forced the evacuation of approximately 1,800 people on Friday.
International and Local Mobilization
To combat the scale of the disaster, Belgium activated the European civil protection mechanism. International assets arrived, including a Dutch helicopter; two others alongside two Swedish water-bombing aircraft are expected to arrive in the evening.
Civilian response has played a role in supporting emergency crews. Authorities continue monitoring the situation as tactical operations persist.
