Brussels activates heightened vigilance for fire risk in the Sonian Forest

Updated 23 August 2026 — Brussels. Brussels authorities confirmed on 19 August that emergency services are operating with heightened vigilance in the Sonian Forest, where prolonged drought has increased the risk of fire. Brussels Environment told BRUZZ that the most vulnerable areas and emergency access routes have been mapped, while the Brussels fire service has a dedicated intervention plan. No active fire was reported in the forest.

Brussels Environment has classified about 6% of the Brussels section as especially vulnerable, according to BRUZZ and The Brussels Times. The principal hazards are dry leaf litter, bracken and pockets of conifers in heavily visited areas. Philippe Bécret of the Brussels fire service identified a fast-moving ground fire as the main operational concern.

The forest’s dense network of paths gives responders an advantage. Brussels Environment spokesperson Lynn Tobback told BRUZZ that a path or road runs roughly every 100 metres, providing access and numerous water points. Seven rendezvous locations allow forest rangers to meet fire crews and guide them to an incident. A 24-hour duty service is monitoring conditions.

The fire service does not have vehicles designed exclusively for forest fires, BRUZZ reported. Its regular engines can be deployed more flexibly under an adapted procedure, with four-wheel-drive vehicles available as reinforcement. An earlier Brussels Parliament record shows that the forest intervention plan dates from 2011, was revised in 2020 and includes access routes, water supplies and designated meeting points.

The current danger remains different from the wildfire conditions associated with the conifer-heavy forests of southern Europe. Brussels Environment says the Sonian Forest’s predominantly broadleaf composition lowers that comparison, without removing the risk. Its environmental assessment warns that longer dry periods, rising summer temperatures and heavy visitor pressure are making fires a less marginal threat. Two small fires in the Brussels section were brought under control during spring 2025, according to Brussels Environment and VRT NWS.

Human behaviour remains the most immediate preventable hazard. The official Sonian Forest guidance prohibits all fires, while Brussels Environment also warns against barbecues, cigarettes and discarded glass. The authorities will continue monitoring dryness and adapting forest management, including greater tree diversity. Residents and visitors should follow posted restrictions and call 112 immediately if they see flames or smoke; the duration of the heightened vigilance depends on rainfall and changing ground conditions.