Rain is bringing badly needed relief to eastern Belgium after the country’s largest wildfire on record burned roughly 3,000 hectares of the High Fens nature reserve, forced around 600 people from their homes and triggered an international firefighting response close to the German border.
The rain began falling on Monday morning, August 17, after firefighters spent the weekend trying to contain a blaze that had spread through unusually dry moorland, peat and woodland. The change in weather matters because crews had been working against heat, low humidity, difficult terrain and shifting winds.
Belgium’s weather agency IRM expects around 5 to 9 millimetres of rain over the area, with further rainfall forecast for Tuesday. Temperatures in the High Fens are expected to fall to around 19°C to 20°C (66°F to 68°F), while higher humidity should also help firefighters.
Belgium’s biggest wildfire on record
The blaze has burned approximately 3,000 hectares, equivalent to about 30 square kilometres or 7,400 acres. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System cited in reports indicates it is Belgium’s largest wildfire on record.
The scale is more than double that of a major 2011 fire that burned close to 1,400 hectares. The current fire began on Friday, August 14, following weeks of unusually hot and dry weather. Temperatures reached about 37°C (98.6°F) in parts of Belgium on Friday.
Successive European heatwaves have left vegetation unusually dry across parts of the continent. Similar conditions have contributed to other emergencies, including the wildfire emergency in Spain’s Almería province, highlighting how prolonged heat can increase fire risks for communities.
Why the High Fens is difficult to protect
The High Fens is a protected nature reserve in Liège province near the German border. Its landscape includes woodland, heath, moorland and peat bogs, making parts of the fire difficult for ground crews and emergency vehicles to reach.
Peat creates another problem because fire can continue smouldering in organic material beneath the surface even after visible flames weaken. Firefighters therefore need to locate and extinguish remaining hotspots before authorities can be confident that burned areas are secure.
This also explains why rainfall does not mean the emergency is immediately over. Rain can dampen vegetation, raise humidity and lower temperatures, but crews still need to secure the fire perimeter and monitor affected peat and woodland.
About 600 people evacuated
Authorities ordered around 600 residents in Waimes and Bütgenbach to evacuate on Saturday as winds shifted and smoke spread. Tourists were also advised to leave, and a gymnasium was opened to receive evacuees.
No homes had been reported affected as of Sunday morning, but residents were told not to return yet. Authorities have also urged people to stay away from the fire zone because unnecessary traffic could obstruct emergency vehicles and complicate firefighting operations.
The emergency also reached Germany. Officials in nearby Monschau warned residents close to the Belgian border about possible health risks from smoke and advised people in several outlying areas to leave temporarily. The fire was not expected to cross into German territory, but significant smoke pollution remained a concern.
500 firefighters and European aircraft deployed
Around 500 firefighters from Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg have been working to contain the blaze. Police, military personnel, civil protection teams and other emergency workers have also supported the operation.
Belgium requested European emergency assistance as the fire expanded. Three helicopters and two water-bombing aircraft were deployed from around Europe, giving crews additional capacity to reach areas that are difficult to tackle from the ground.
The scale of the emergency comes amid broader concerns about extreme summer temperatures across Europe. Recent extreme heat in France and other parts of Europe has shown how prolonged high temperatures can put pressure on communities, infrastructure and the environment.
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What caused the Belgium wildfire?
The exact cause remains unknown. Local prosecutors have opened an investigation, but authorities have not established what started the fire. Claims assigning responsibility would therefore be premature.
What is clear is that weeks of hot, dry weather had created conditions favourable for fire spread. Dry vegetation combined with peat, heath and woodland made containment particularly challenging once the blaze became established.
Rain offers hope, but the emergency is not over
The arrival of rain is the most encouraging development since the fire began. Cooler temperatures, rainfall and higher humidity can slow fire behaviour and give crews better conditions to strengthen containment.
Further rain expected Tuesday could provide additional assistance, but residents should wait for official permission before returning to evacuated areas. Visitors should also stay away from restricted parts of the High Fens while emergency operations continue.
The latest report on the High Fens wildfire puts the burned area at about 3,000 hectares and confirms the international firefighting response and continuing evacuation restrictions.
For communities in Waimes and Bütgenbach, attention now turns to when authorities will consider it safe for residents to return. For firefighters, the challenge is ensuring that remaining hotspots in peat, woodland and moorland do not reignite after the rain passes.
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