High Fens fire is under control as Belgium confronts gaps in wildfire readiness
The High Fens wildfire is under control, but localised flare-ups continue and access restrictions remain while Belgium assesses how to strengthen prevention, detection and firefighting capacity.
In 30 seconds
- The fire began near Baelen at about 13:00 on 14 August, according to the Walloon government.
- Nearly 3,000 hectares were affected, according to the Belgian Defence Ministry.
- Walloon authorities said the fire was under control but reported localised flare-ups on 24 August.
- Belgium activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 15 August, according to the European Commission.
UPDATED 25 AUGUST 2026, 10:00 CEST — , LIÈGE PROVINCE. Walloon authorities said the that began near Baelen at about 13:00 on 14 August is under control, although emergency crews were still tackling localised flare-ups on 24 August. The Walloon government said 140 to 160 firefighters, police officers, Civil Protection personnel, soldiers, forestry agents and Red Cross logistics staff worked across the site during the previous day, mainly in its eastern sector.
Nearly 3,000 hectares have been affected, according to the Ministry. Residents evacuated from Sourbrodt, Küchelscheid and Leykaul returned home on 19 August, but Wallonia is maintaining restrictions in designated forests and nature reserves to protect the public and leave access clear for emergency teams. The regional environment administration reported no worrying carbon-monoxide concentrations on 23 August and said a temporary rise in fine particles had subsided that morning.
Belgium fought the fire with local rescue zones, Civil Protection and six Defence Ministry Panther vehicles, while international assistance supplied extra personnel and aircraft. The said Belgium activated the on 15 August. RTBF reported that Dutch Chinook helicopters, carrying larger water loads than the Belgian helicopters deployed at the fire, reinforced operations, while German firefighters helped defend the border area.
Those reinforcements exposed the central operational choice now facing the country: Belgium can invest in more specialist national equipment, but it can also strengthen rapid access to pooled European capacity. Aircraft suppress flames and support crews; they do not replace teams on the ground. The Defence Ministry said changing winds, cloud cover and the difficult terrain repeatedly limited aerial operations, forcing responders to encircle parts of the fire from land.
Prevention forms the other half of the response. Wallonia says 90% of fires in natural areas result from human activity and already uses red-flag access bans, restrictions on fires and barbecues, and public warnings during dry periods. Federal Climate Minister said the government added €850,000 in March to , a programme developing a national incident database, risk maps, propagation modelling, detection systems and analysis of threats to health and critical infrastructure. According to Crucke’s office, a pilot propagation model supported the response.
Where this is happening
View on map High Fens →The immediate task remains extinguishing hidden hotspots, including heat retained below the surface, while enforcing the restricted perimeter. The Walloon and German-speaking governments will then assess operational needs and ecological damage. The fire’s cause, the final burned area and the long-term recovery cost have not yet been officially established.
What to do
Anyone planning to visit the High Fens should check the Wallonia public information portal and local closure notices immediately before travelling, because designated forests and nature reserves remain restricted despite the fire being under control. Do not enter closed areas or assume that reopened recreational sites mean the entire landscape is accessible. Residents near affected zones should continue following municipal and provincial instructions if smoke or flare-ups return. Policy watchers should monitor the post-incident assessment and how the additional €850,000 allocated to FIRE4BE in March 2026 is translated into prevention, detection and firefighting capacity.
Impact
Regional — Eastern Wallonia experienced evacuations, forest closures, disrupted recreation and tourism, smoke, and a prolonged emergency deployment. Some recreational areas have reopened, but designated forests and nature reserves remain restricted.
EvidenceWell established · 5 official documents + 1 independent reporting source · Background sources: 1Explore evidence →Hide evidence ↑
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Voices & reactions
What the main actors are doing
Reported positions, summarised — not direct quotationsSupporters of stronger national capacity
Emergency-service advocates and political figures pressing for more Belgian equipment argue that faster access to specialist vehicles, trained wildfire crews and aerial resources reduces dependence on assets that can be unavailable when several European countries burn simultaneously.
Supporters of pooled European capacity
Officials favouring shared European resources argue that Belgium’s wildfire demand does not justify maintaining a large dedicated water-bomber fleet year-round. They prioritise interoperable ground forces, prevention and rapid access to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Nature-protection organisations
Environmental organisations stress that aircraft and emergency vehicles address an active blaze, not the underlying vulnerability. They seek stronger peatland restoration, water retention, risk mapping and restrictions during dry periods.
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