BELGIUM – The wildfire has been raging across the High Fens nature reserve near the German border since Friday, with authorities warning on Sunday that conditions remained difficult and the blaze was still out of control.

The area affected increased dramatically from about 80 hectares on Friday to 850 hectares by Saturday morning before reaching approximately 3 000 hectares by early Sunday.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

More than 250 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed overnight as several fire fronts continued to burn. Shifting winds have complicated efforts to contain the flames, while the rugged terrain has made it difficult for crews and heavy firefighting vehicles to reach the affected areas.

More than 250 firefighters are battling Belgium’s largest wildfire in modern history after the blaze more than tripled in size, engulfing about 3 000 hectares of nature reserve in the country’s east.

The High Fens is a fragile landscape of heathland, peat bogs and pine forests, with wooden boardwalks crossing parts of the reserve. The soft ground poses a significant risk of heavy vehicles becoming stuck, restricting firefighters’ ability to tackle the flames at close range.

The area was also devastated by major wildfires in 1911 during a period of heatwaves and drought.

Aerial support deployed

Firefighters are relying heavily on aerial support to gain control of the blaze.

Belgian federal police helicopters and Dutch aircraft were operating over the reserve on Sunday, repeatedly drawing water from a nearby lake to attack the fire.

Additional helicopters from the Czech Republic and Swedish water-bombing aircraft were expected to join the operation later on Sunday under the European Union’s civil protection mechanism, which Belgium activated to request international assistance.

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Norway and Germany could also provide additional aerial support.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever thanked European partners for their assistance.

Firefighters from across Belgium, as well as crews from neighbouring Germany, have also been deployed.

Local farmers have joined the effort by making water tankers available to emergency services.

Villages evacuated as smoke blankets region

A thick yellowish plume of smoke has spread across the area near the German border, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from parts of two nearby villages.

No homes have been damaged so far, but officials remain on high alert as the fire continues to spread.

Rescue teams have been unable to reach the location where the fire initially broke out, leaving investigators unable to determine what caused the blaze.

The fire comes as Belgium, like much of Europe, experiences another period of intense heat and drought.

Temperatures reached as high as 37°C in parts of the country on Friday, creating conditions favourable for the rapid spread of wildfires.

Authorities said firefighting operations in the High Fens remained “particularly complex”, with crews working to prevent the flames from spreading further through the vulnerable nature reserve.

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