In brief
On Saturday, firefighters battled the most severe wildfire in Belgium’s recent history, as fire roared through one third of the Hautes Fagnes reserve. Residents of two villages were evacuated while a gymnasium served as a temporary shelter. Due to the reserve’s boggy terrain and smoky conditions, fire forces had to deploy strategically, with wind shifts halting and aiding progress. Belgium’s national agency triggered the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, drawing water‑bombing aircraft from Sweden, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, similar fires were reported across France, Croatia, Spain and Serbia amid record heat, highlighting the growing threat of European wildfires.
Firefighters battle wildfire tearing through Belgian nature reserve
The Hautes Fagnes nature reserve, Belgium’s largest natural park, suffered a catastrophic blaze on Saturday, described by officials as the country’s worst in recent history. Residents of two nearby villages were evacuated, and a gymnasium was opened as a shelter for those fleeing the flames.
Fire crews struggled to control the spread through the reserve’s boggy, moorland terrain. The wind reversed several times, first favouring the firefighters as they doused the plain, then threatening to push the fire toward the fir forest—though they managed to keep the blaze from reaching surrounding homes.
Belgium activated the European Union’s civil‑protection system, summoning international cooperation. Swedes deployed two water‑bombing aircraft, while the Czech Republic and the Netherlands supplied helicopters. German firefighters also joined the effort, aiding in sustained firefighting operations.
The wildfire sparked across Europe at the same time a similar blaze in the south‑western French region of Landes, and further fires erupted in Croatia, Spain and Serbia. The EU climate monitoring service Copernicus confirmed that western Europe experienced its hottest June‑to‑July period on record, a factor that heightened the fire risk.
An aerial photo shows the smoke plume rising above Hautes Fagnes.
