Brussels: Belgium is battling its largest wildfire on record after a massive blaze in the High Fens area of eastern Belgium scorched around 2,000 hectares of vegetation, according to local authorities. The fire has surpassed the country’s previous record for the largest area affected by a wildfire.
The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon and continued to spread through the High Fens, a vast nature reserve near Belgium’s borders with Germany and Luxembourg. Difficult terrain, dry vegetation and strong winds have complicated firefighting operations.
Authorities have evacuated residents from nearby communities as the fire threatened populated areas. Firefighters have been working for more than 30 hours to contain the blaze, while additional emergency resources have been mobilised from across Belgium and neighbouring countries.
Belgium has activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to strengthen the firefighting response. The EU has deployed helicopters and water-bomber aircraft, including aircraft from Sweden and helicopters from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
The wildfire comes amid a period of intense heat across Europe, with Belgium recording temperatures of up to around 37 degrees Celsius in parts of the country. Officials and climate experts have linked the increasingly severe wildfire conditions across Europe to extreme heat and drought.
The scale of the High Fens blaze has raised concerns about damage to one of Belgium’s most important natural landscapes. Firefighting teams remain focused on preventing further spread and protecting nearby communities as weather conditions continue to pose challenges.
The record fire is part of a wider wave of destructive wildfires affecting several European countries this summer, highlighting growing concerns over extreme heat, dry conditions and escalating wildfire risks across the continent.