Wildfire rages through Belgium’s High Fens, prompting mass evacuations

Firefighters are battling a massive wildfire in Belgium’s High Fens nature reserve, which has been described as the country’s worst in recent history.

Residents in two nearby villages were ordered to evacuate as the blaze threatened a third of the nature reserve. A gymnasium was opened to shelter those leaving their homes.

European Union air support arrived, including water‑bombing aircraft from Sweden, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. These aircraft and helicopters were deployed to extend the firefighting effort beyond local resources.

The fire began on Friday and continues to spread, with changing wind conditions adding to the challenge. Local officials have warned that the blaze could reach homes if not contained.

Across Europe, similar wildfires have burned in France, Croatia, Spain and Serbia after a summer of extreme heat that set new records for the June‑July period. The EU’s climatology service, Copernicus, confirmed that western Europe experienced its hottest such period on record.