Belgium battles largest wildfire on record, around 3,000 hectares burned
A large wildfire broke out in Belgium's largest nature reserve on Aug 14, 2026. By Aug 16 it had burned about 3,000 hectares, damaged about one third of the reserve's vegetation, and hundreds of residents were evacuated. It is the largest wildfire on record in Belgium.
A large wildfire broke out in the afternoon of August 14, 2026 in High Fens, the largest nature reserve in Belgium. By August 16, the fire had burned about 3,000 hectares and destroyed about one third of the reserve's vegetation, making it the largest and most severe forest fire on record in Belgium. Hundreds of residents in nearby villages were asked to evacuate.