Fresh Hautes Fagnes flare-ups keep nearly 150 responders mobilised

Firefighters tackled fresh flare-ups in Belgium’s Hautes Fagnes on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, with nearly 150 responders deployed on the ground or supporting operations, according to the Liège governor’s office, cited by [Belga in La DH](https://actualite-generale.dhnet.be/actu/belgique/2026/09/08/reprises-de-feu-dans-les-fagnes-150-intervenants-mobilises-pour-maitriser-les-flammes-residuelles-LF3ROYGHZVCOXGJHAYWC3U4VYE/). Renewed burning affected the eastern flank, while a larger flare-up required intervention in the northwest. Access to the burned perimeter remained prohibited.

The governor’s services told Belga that some fires restarted spontaneously. Others were anticipated during the removal of fallen or felled trees, work that exposes or reactivates remaining hotspots. Around 50 German volunteer firefighters supported Belgian crews, and Civil Protection provided drone surveillance, the report said.

The latest operations follow several days of renewed activity. In its [6 September bulletin](https://gouverneur.provincedeliege.be/node/7923), the governor’s office said ground crews controlled flare-ups in the southeast and northeast without significant expansion. Its following evening’s update recorded further burning along the eastern flank, in southern spruce stands and beside the N68 near Baraque Michel.

The difficulty lies partly beneath the surface. Speaking to [Vedia on 4 September](https://www.vedia.be/info/les-fagnes-se-consument-toujours-et-pour-des-semaines-encore/214148), Walloon public service spokesman Nicolas Yernaux said probes still measured soil temperatures of 70–80°C in places. He explained that peat continued to burn underground despite limited oxygen. That account describes a persistent challenge for crews: visible flames are only part of the remaining fire.

For people planning a visit, restrictions apply to the affected perimeter. [VISITWallonia’s 31 August guidance](https://presse.visitwallonia.be/fr-be/communiques-de-presse/les-hautes-fagnes-autrement) says much of the wider region’s tourism offer remains accessible, with alternative walks and activities outside closed sectors. The tourism body asks visitors to check individual routes before departure and respect barriers and local signs.

The next operational step is an assessment of the weekend’s automatic watering trials. According to Belga’s Tuesday report, crews dismantled the equipment that afternoon, and the governor’s services will examine the results to guide longer-term management of residual fires. That report gives no date for complete extinguishment or reopening of the burned perimeter.