High Fens fire contained as Belgium turns to a long ecological recovery
Walloon authorities have brought the wildfire that started near Baelen on 14 August under control after it affected about 3,000 hectares, but underground hotspots and extensive access restrictions remain.
In 30 seconds
- The fire began near Baelen at about 13:00 on 14 August 2026.
- Authorities estimate that approximately 3,000 hectares were affected.
- The Walloon government says the fire is under control, although peat hotspots can reignite.
- All preventively evacuated residents were allowed home on 19 August.
Updated 26 August 2026, 10:00 CEST — BAELEN, . Walloon authorities have brought the wildfire that started near Baelen at about 13:00 on 14 August under control after it affected roughly 3,000 hectares of the , but emergency crews are still watching for underground flare-ups. The Walloon government said local outbreaks required intervention during the night of 23–24 August and warned that fire can continue smouldering in peat.
The authorities have therefore kept paths and natural areas within the designated safety perimeter closed or tightly restricted. According to the Walloon government, fire damage can also expose old wartime ammunition, while weakened wildlife must not be disturbed. The regional access order currently runs through 31 August, although officials can revise the measures as conditions develop.
The same official update said monitoring found no worrying concentration of carbon monoxide. Fine-particle levels rose temporarily overnight on 22–23 August before returning to normal that morning, and the 24-hour air-quality classification remained good. Drinking-water tests around nearby production infrastructure also met health standards, while residents evacuated from Sourbrodt, Küchelscheid and Leykaul were allowed home on 19 August.
VRT NWS reported during the emergency that the fire had affected nearly 3,000 hectares, exceeding the approximately 1,300 hectares burned in the High Fens fire of 2011. Peat, heathland and conifer stands made the operation particularly difficult: peat can burn below the surface after visible flames have disappeared.
That physical reality now shapes the recovery debate. The Cercles des Naturalistes de Belgique says parts of the plateau were historically drained and that restoration work has sought to rewet peat soils and remove spruce plantations from unsuitable wet ground. Wetter peat supports specialised habitats, stores carbon and is less exposed to deep, persistent combustion. This is why learning to invest in nature restoration is not a luxury exclusively for nature lovers, but part of managing fire, water and climate risks.
Where this is happening
View on map High Fens →The Walloon government says donations collected through a new solidarity fund can support peatland rewetting, replanting, trail repairs, impact studies and prevention. Officials and ecologists must first map the damage safely, protect surviving pockets of vegetation and determine where natural regeneration is sufficient. The fire’s cause and the final ecological losses have not yet been established publicly; those findings will determine the next phase of restoration and prevention.
What to do
If you plan to walk, cycle or visit the High Fens, check current Walloon access notices before travelling and do not enter marked safety zones, even where nearby visitor facilities have reopened. Expect closures affecting woodland, trails and parts of the Robertville area, and choose an alternative destination if your route crosses restricted land. Residents evacuated during the fire have been allowed home since 19 August, but everyone in the affected area should continue following official instructions because underground peat hotspots can reignite. No reopening date for all restricted areas is established in the facts provided.
Impact
Regional — Residents and tourism operators across eastern Liège province and Belgium’s German-speaking area face continuing access limits. Some visitor facilities have reopened, while woodland, trails and parts of the Robertville area remain restricted.
EvidenceWell established · 1 primary source + 3 official documents + 1 independent reporting source · Background sources: 1Explore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
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- 14 Aug 2026, 02:00
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- 26 Aug 2026
Voices & reactions
What the main actors are doing
Reported positions, summarised — not direct quotationsPeatland-restoration advocates
Naturalist organisations argue that rewetting drained peat and restoring native open habitats strengthen biodiversity, carbon storage and resistance to deep-burning fires. They present restoration spending as risk-management infrastructure rather than a benefit reserved for conservation enthusiasts.
Emergency and access authorities
Walloon and local authorities are prioritising public safety, hotspot surveillance and controlled access before broad restoration work begins. Their immediate position is that ecological assessment and visitor reopening must wait until unstable ground, smouldering peat and exposed ammunition no longer endanger people.
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