Record-breaking wildfire spreads across Belgium's High Fens

A historic wildfire has been burning since August 14, 2026, in the High Fens, Belgium’s largest nature reserve. By Sunday morning, August 16, the fire had consumed approximately 3,000 hectares, making it the largest recorded blaze in the country, significantly surpassing a 2011 record of 1,400 hectares. The European Union has deployed three helicopters and two water bomber aircraft to assist local firefighters, the army, and farmers in containment efforts. Reinforcements have also arrived from neighboring Germany and Luxembourg to help battle the flames as they move toward the German border.

Authorities have taken precautionary measures including the evacuation of a children’s summer camp and warnings for residents in Sourbrodt. While officials from the German town of Monschau do not expect the fire to reach their territory, they have advised residents near the border to evacuate due to significant smoke pollution. Responders remain focused on the front line of the fire, holding out hope that cooler, more humid weather conditions will assist in controlling the blaze. The incident occurs amidst the country's fifth heatwave of the summer, which experts associate with long-term climate change.