DistantNews
Support us
Belgian Wildfire Sees Multiple Flare-ups, Spans 27 Kilometers
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Disasters & Emergencies

Belgian Wildfire Sees Multiple Flare-ups, Spans 27 Kilometers

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • A wildfire in Belgium's Hautes Fagnes nature reserve has spread to 27 kilometers in perimeter after several flare-ups.
  • While the fire is under control, authorities are concerned about small re-ignitions and smoke, advising residents to stay indoors.
  • The Belgian government plans a national resilience plan to combat large-scale fires, as the EU's crisis management commissioner visits the affected areas.

A wildfire in Belgium's Hautes Fagnes nature reserve has expanded to a 27-kilometer perimeter, battling multiple flare-ups over more than a week. Although firefighters brought the blaze under control last Thursday, small re-ignitions and lingering smoke remain a concern, prompting authorities to advise residents to remain indoors with doors and windows closed.

Since the fire began on August 14 near the Belgian-German border, it has consumed 3,366 hectares. The Belgian Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin, has announced that the federal government will propose a "national resilience plan" to address large-scale fires like this one, which is the largest in Belgium's history.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, is scheduled to visit the affected regions in Belgium and Germany. She will meet with local and national officials, visit affected residents, and observe the firefighting response. Lahbib stated, "The devastation in Hautes Fagnes is a clear reminder that the risk of forest fires is changing across Europe. Our firefighters and emergency services are on the front lines, working tirelessly to protect communities."

Europe responded to Belgium's request for assistance through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, deploying teams and aircraft from across the continent. The European Commission provided emergency satellite mapping and coordinated the deployment of aircraft from Sweden, helicopters from the Netherlands, Germany, and Norway, and specialized firefighting teams from the Netherlands and Spain. The EU has described the 2026 fire season as "exceptionally serious," with burned areas already doubling the yearly average by mid-August. The mechanism has been activated ten times this year, involving over 700 firefighters, 200 vehicles, and 38 aircraft.

The devastation in Hautes Fagnes is a clear reminder that the risk of forest fires is changing across Europe. Our firefighters and emergency services are on the front lines, working tirelessly to protect communities.

— Hadja LahbibEuropean Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib on the impact of the wildfire and the changing risk of forest fires in Europe.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog