Evacuations remain in force as record High Fens wildfire burns near Sourbrodt

Updated 17 August 2026; reporting time not supplied — SOURBRODT, LIÈGE PROVINCE: Local authorities kept residents away from Sourbrodt and affected parts of Bütgenbach on Monday as firefighters continued to contain the wildfire that has swept across the High Fens since Friday. RTBF reported that about 2,700 hectares had burned and that the evacuation order remained in force, while Bütgenbach municipality urged people not to travel to the affected area. No deaths or serious injuries had been confirmed in the reports reviewed for this update.

The fire is already the largest recorded vegetation fire in Belgium, according to 7sur7 and RTBF. Emergency crews have worked across a broad, difficult perimeter of heath, forest and peatland. Authorities have closed access routes both to protect the public and to leave roads clear for fire engines and other emergency vehicles. The cause of the fire has not been established publicly.

The evacuation affects communities on the edge of one of Wallonia’s most sensitive natural areas. Residents must follow municipal and emergency-service instructions and should not return until officials lift the order. RTBF reported that the operation remained active on Monday, meaning the burned-area estimate and evacuation perimeter were still subject to official revision.

The ecological damage extends beyond scorched surface vegetation. Laurane Winandy, director of the University of Liège’s High Fens scientific station, told Le Soir that the fire had affected rare peatland habitats and destroyed years of restoration work. Peat can retain heat and burn below the visible surface, leaving crews with a prolonged monitoring task even after open flames subside.

The scale far exceeds Belgium’s previous benchmark. A Walloon government briefing identified the April 2011 High Fens fire as the largest previously recorded in Wallonia. The regional administration had also warned in June and July 2026 that persistent heat and drought had sharply increased the risk of fires in forests and open land.

Authorities’ immediate priorities remain protecting inhabited areas, suppressing remaining hotspots and assessing when evacuees can return safely. Further official updates are expected on the fire perimeter, road closures and environmental damage. The final burned area, the number of displaced residents and the origin of the fire were not confirmed at the time of publication.