Belgium battles largest wildfire in recent history; two villages evacuated
Firefighters in Belgium continued on Saturday to battle a wildfire sweeping through the High Fens, the country's largest nature reserve, as authorities ordered the evacuation of two nearby villages. The blaze, burning since Friday, has consumed roughly a third of the protected area, according to local officials.
Nicolas Yernaux, a spokesperson for the regional authorities in Wallonia, described the fire as the largest the country has witnessed in recent history. "There is a risk that the fire could reach homes, but we are deploying all available resources to protect them," he said. A local gymnasium has been opened to shelter residents who were told to leave their homes as a precaution.
The High Fens, located near Belgium's eastern border with Germany, is known for its unique terrain of bogs, moorland and forest. That landscape, along with persistent dry weather, has complicated firefighting efforts. Yernaux noted that firefighters had "allowed parts of the heathland to burn because the area is very difficult to access," a controlled measure aimed at preventing the flames from spreading further.
Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters from several European countries were deployed to assist ground crews. The fire is among a string of wildfires across Europe this weekend, including a separate forest fire in south-western France that forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. Officials have not yet reported any injuries or damage to homes in Belgium.
Authorities in Wallonia said the fire remained out of control as of Saturday afternoon, though they expressed confidence that reinforcements, including aerial support, would help bring it under containment. The blazes come amid a broader pattern of unusually high temperatures and dry conditions affecting parts of Europe, raising concerns about the growing frequency of such incidents.
While the immediate focus is on protecting lives and property, the ecological impact on the High Fens is expected to be significant. The reserve is home to diverse plant and animal species adapted to its wetland and moorland habitats. Conservationists are likely to assess the damage once the fire is fully extinguished.
The evacuation orders cover villages close to the fire's path, and residents have been advised to follow instructions from emergency services. Local authorities have also asked the public to avoid the affected areas to allow firefighting operations to proceed unimpeded.
The deployment of international firefighting resources reflects a cooperative approach among European nations, particularly as climate-related weather events put greater strain on national emergency services. European Union mechanisms for coordinating disaster response have been activated in previous wildfire seasons to share aircraft, equipment and personnel.
As of now, no end to the blaze is in sight, and firefighters are bracing for continuing challenges. Weather forecasts suggest limited rainfall in the coming days, which could sustain the fire's intensity. Emergency officials remain on high alert and are monitoring the situation closely.
