Brussels maps high-risk zones as drought raises Sonian Forest fire threat

Brussels authorities confirmed on Wednesday, 19 August, that they have an emergency plan to tackle a fire in the Sonian Forest, where prolonged drought has increased the danger around the capital. Brussels Environment told BX1 and Belga that the plan includes mapped access routes, designated rendezvous points and permanent monitoring; no major fire was reported in the forest.

Brussels Environment has classified about 6% of the Brussels-managed section as especially fire-sensitive. According to BRUZZ, these areas contain vegetation such as conifers and bracken that burns more readily in dry conditions. Emergency vehicles have mapped routes into the forest, while seven rendezvous points allow a ranger to meet firefighters and guide them to an incident. A duty service operates around the clock.

The preparations received fresh scrutiny after the fire that began in the Hautes Fagnes on 14 August. Wallonia's environmental administration said on 23 August that operations and access restrictions remained in force because underground hotspots, weakened trees and smoke still posed dangers. Its latest air checks found no worrying carbon-monoxide concentrations, while a temporary rise in fine particles overnight had subsided.

The Sonian Forest presents a different operational landscape. Lynn Tobback of Brussels Environment told BRUZZ that its compartmentalised layout supports surveillance and intervention, while acknowledging that extreme dryness has raised the risk. The agency's environmental assessment says drought and heat are making forest fires more likely around Brussels and records two fire outbreaks in the Brussels section during spring 2025.

Preparedness does not remove the practical difficulty of fighting flames beside a dense urban area. The Brussels management plan notes that the forest is heavily visited and bordered by housing. Its fire-response framework was created with the Brussels fire service in 2011 and updated in 2020, according to Belgium's national energy and climate plan.

For residents and visitors, the immediate rules remain straightforward. Brussels Environment prohibits fires and barbecues in the forest and instructs visitors not to discard cigarette ends. Anyone who sees flames or a visible hotspot should call 112. Authorities will continue monitoring drought conditions, refining access arrangements and testing coordination; the decisive unknown is how the forest plan performs during a large, fast-moving incident.