More than 600 residents evacuated as High Fens wildfire burns 2,700 hectares

As of Monday, 17 August 2026, emergency authorities in and around the High Fens in eastern Belgium had evacuated more than 600 residents as firefighters continued to contain a wildfire that began on Friday. RTBF reported that about 2,700 hectares had burned, while 7sur7 said an emergency reception and accommodation centre had opened for people unable to stay with relatives or friends.

The evacuations remained in force around Sourbrodt, according to RTBF’s continuing coverage. The broadcaster also reported that the municipality of Bütgenbach had asked the public to stay away from the affected area so that emergency crews could work without additional traffic or visitors. The precise number of people using the reception centre had not been published by Monday’s update.

The fire’s measured footprint expanded sharply over the weekend. RTL Info reported 1,800 hectares burned on Saturday, based on aerial images and the information then available. RTBF subsequently put the affected area at approximately 2,700 hectares. The figures describe land within the fire zone and remain subject to revision as crews and environmental authorities map the damage.

The High Fens pose particular difficulties for firefighters because fire can persist in peat beneath the visible surface. During a much smaller fire in 2023, the German-speaking Community’s fire commander, Francis Clothe, told RTL Info that smouldering peat could continue spreading underground and reignite vegetation. That earlier incident affected 155 hectares, according to the broadcaster, making the scale reported in 2026 unprecedented for the reserve.

The immediate priority remains protecting settlements and extinguishing concealed hot spots. RTBF said residents in evacuated areas had not yet received a general clearance to return, while municipal authorities continued urging people not to enter the operational zone. No authoritative source reviewed for this update had published a final account of damaged buildings, casualties or the fire’s cause.

The longer-term impact will centre on the High Fens’ peatlands and protected habitats. The Scientific Station of the High Fens told Le Soir that more than half of the nature reserve had been affected and that peatland restoration work and wildlife habitats had suffered severe damage. A verified final assessment will require field inspections after the fire is extinguished. Further official updates are expected on the evacuation perimeter, the burned area and conditions for residents to return home.