More than 600 evacuated as High Fens wildfire burns across Waimes and Bütgenbach

Updated 17 August 2026 (CEST) — Authorities evacuated more than 600 people from threatened areas in Waimes and Bütgenbach by Monday as a wildfire that began on Friday continued to burn across the High Fens. RTBF reported that the evacuations remained in force while firefighters worked to contain the country’s largest recorded wildfire; no deaths were reported in the available official and media updates.

The operation covers communities on both sides of the French-German language boundary in eastern Belgium. According to 7sur7, residents and other people staying in the affected area were moved as the fire approached inhabited zones. RTBF said Sourbrodt remained under an evacuation order, while the municipality of Bütgenbach told the public not to enter the operational area. The precise division of evacuees between the two municipalities had not been confirmed publicly.

RTBF reported that roughly 2,700 hectares had burned by Sunday, far exceeding the approximately 155 hectares partially burned during the major High Fens fire of May 2023. The current surface estimate remains provisional because crews must first secure and inspect the full perimeter. Authorities have also not announced a verified cause.

The terrain makes the response unusually difficult. The High Fens contain dry heath, grasses and peat, where fire can persist below the surface after visible flames subside. Parts of the wider area also border the Elsenborn military training ground. Reporting by Vedia on a separate fire there in July documented how unexploded ammunition can prevent firefighters from entering restricted sectors, although authorities have not said that ammunition caused the present blaze.

The fire is also an ecological emergency. The High Fens form Belgium’s largest nature reserve and contain rare peatland habitats. Wallonia’s environment administration says dry vegetation allows fire to start and spread rapidly, which is why red-flag restrictions prohibit access to sensitive parts of the reserve during high-risk periods. The final damage to peat, wildlife and restoration projects cannot be measured while the area is still unsafe.

Residents must continue to follow municipal evacuation orders and avoid closed roads, forests and paths. Fire crews will focus on containing the perimeter and detecting underground or residual hotspots. The next official updates are expected to clarify when people can return, how much land has burned and whether investigators can identify where and how the fire started.