Firefighters are battling Belgium’s largest wildfire on record, with a blaze in the High Fens nature reserve burning around 3,000 hectares of land and spreading towards the German border, local authorities said.
The fire, which started on Friday in eastern Belgium, has become the country’s biggest recorded wildfire, more than doubling the previous record set in 2011 when around 1,400 hectares were burned, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System.
Fire crews from across Belgium, as well as teams from neighbouring Germany and Luxembourg, have been deployed to contain the flames. The army and local farmers have also joined efforts to support emergency responders.
Crews worked through the night to slow the advance of the wildfire, with teams focusing on the eastern front moving towards Germany.
Authorities said cooler and more humid weather conditions expected on Sunday could help firefighters strengthen containment efforts and prevent further spread.
Karim Bouarfa, a captain from the fire brigade in the Belgian city of Mons, said the scale of the blaze had exceeded expectations.
“We would never have imagined that Belgium would be affected by a fire of this scale,” Bouarfa said, adding that the country would likely need to prepare for similar events in the future.
Local authorities said defensive lines protecting nearby villages were holding on Sunday, but residents who were evacuated on Saturday were advised not to return home yet.
The High Fens region, known for its forests, wetlands and protected landscapes, has faced challenging conditions as firefighters work to contain the blaze across difficult terrain.
Officials said emergency teams remain focused on preventing the fire from crossing into Germany while continuing efforts to protect communities and limit further damage.
The wildfire comes as several European countries face increased fire risks during periods of hot and dry weather, with authorities warning that changing climate conditions are contributing to more frequent and intense wildfires.
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