Disasters & Incidents
Belgium wildfire to get Norway, Germany air support
A wildfire in Belgium's High Fens park was set to receive more air support Monday, with helicopters from Norway and Germany due to reinforce crews after authorities said its spread remained limited overnight.
The local governor's office said "major aerial resources" would support ground crews through the day as aircraft carried water into areas that are difficult to reach. The operation already involved Swedish water-bombing aircraft, Dutch military Chinook helicopters and Belgian helicopters.
The fire broke out Friday for reasons still unknown and had burned about 3,000 hectares by Sunday. Around 500 firefighters and emergency crews have been mobilised in the nature reserve, an area of peatlands, pine forests and hiking trails near Germany.
Crisis management spokesman Tony Hosmans said rain and favourable wind were helping contain the fire's spread. He said the fire was contained wherever crews could intervene, but had not been brought under control.
The blaze moved closer to Germany over the weekend, prompting an evacuation order in the border town of Monschau. On the Belgian side, smoke led to the evacuation of two villages, where residents were still being told to stay away. Smoke was also detected as far as eastern France, where authorities issued an air-pollution alert.
Firefighting has been complicated by the terrain, where heavy vehicles risk sinking into boggy ground and crews struggle to reach the flames. Local farmers have used tractors and water tankers to help.
Belgium has recently faced intense heat and drought, with temperatures reaching 37C in parts of the country on Friday.
Update
The local governor's office said major aerial resources were due to reinforce ground crews throughout Monday.
Helicopters from Norway and Germany were joining the aircraft being used to carry water to hard-to-reach areas.
Authorities said the wildfire's spread remained limited overnight.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 August 2026 at 09:23:33 UTC.
Update
An official said the Belgium wildfire made a limited advance overnight.
More air support was on the way.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 August 2026 at 09:07:05 UTC.
Update
Rain fell on the High Fens area on Monday and more intermittent rain was forecast during the week.
Crisis management spokesman Tony Hosmans said the fire was no longer advancing toward the German border.
Hosmans said favourable wind and rainfall were helping contain the fire's spread, but the blaze was not yet under control.
An aerial reconnaissance mission was due later Monday to give authorities a fuller picture.
Residents of two evacuated Belgian villages were still under instruction to stay away.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 August 2026 at 08:20:14 UTC.
Update
Local farmers used tractors and water tankers to help firefighters draw water from a nearby lake.
About 20 people spent the night in a local sports hall after partial evacuations on the Belgian side.
Smoke reached Belgium's Namur province and eastern France's Moselle department, where an air-pollution alert was triggered.
Rescue teams had not reached the area where the fire began, leaving the precise cause unknown.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 21:33:16 UTC.
Update
Monschau's mayor's office said late Sunday that two streets were being evacuated because of the fire, smoke and weather conditions.
The item identifies Monschau as a town with 12,000 residents.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 21:24:09 UTC.
Update
A German border town has been partly evacuated because of the fire in Belgium, according to the mayor's office.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 21:13:50 UTC.
Update
Monschau in Germany urged residents in areas close to the Belgian border to leave because of expected smoke pollution from the wildfire.
Monschau said the fire front was 1.5 kilometres from the Germany-Belgium border and 1.8 kilometres from the nearest inhabited area.
Monschau said the flames were not currently expected to reach German territory.
Belgian authorities ordered the evacuation of Kuechelscheid, near Monschau.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 15:26:04 UTC.
Update
Local farmers used tractors and water tankers to help supply water to firefighters near Baelen.
Dutch Chinook helicopters were among the aircraft carrying water to the fire zone.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever thanked Belgium's European partners for their assistance.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 13:26:47 UTC.
Update
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said two fire fronts heading towards Jalhay and Monschau were under control.
The Liege governor's office said about 20 people spent the night in a local sports hall after partial village evacuations.
European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said two Swedish water-bombing aircraft had arrived, joining two Belgian and two Dutch helicopters.
The Liege governor's office said the defensive line protecting evacuated areas was holding and no homes had been affected at that stage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 11:51:58 UTC.
Update
Belgian federal police helicopters and Dutch aircraft were seen drawing water from a nearby lake on Sunday morning.
Czech helicopters and Swedish water-bombing aircraft were due to become operational later Sunday under the EU civil protection mechanism.
Authorities said no homes had been damaged so far, but the fire remained out of control with several active fronts.
European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said Norway and Germany may also send additional aerial support.
Authorities praised local farmers who made water tankers available for firefighting operations.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 09:09:17 UTC.
Update
Authorities said the wildfire more than doubled in size in 24 hours.
The Wallonia regional government said more than 250 firefighters and other emergency personnel were mobilised through the night.
The Wallonia regional government said conditions remained challenging two days after the outbreak.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 08:28:22 UTC.
Update
Authorities said the record Belgium wildfire had spread to 3,000 hectares, or 7,500 acres.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 08:11:55 UTC.
Update
Local authorities said the wildfire had scorched more than 2,700 hectares by late Saturday, up from 80 hectares on Friday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 20:21:02 UTC.
Update
The burned area had increased to at least 20 square kilometres by around 6:00 pm Saturday, according to Wallonia regional spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux.
Belga reported that 600 people were told to leave.
A Dutch helicopter was already on site, with two more helicopters and two Swedish water-bombing aircraft on the way.
European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib said the additional aircraft would be operational from Sunday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 17:47:31 UTC.
Update
Residents in parts of Sourbrodt and Buetgenbach were ordered to evacuate at around 4:00 pm local time on Saturday.
A gymnasium in a neighbouring municipality was opened to accommodate evacuees.
Regional authorities said the blaze remained uncontrolled and called it the largest in Belgium's recent history.
Belgium activated the EU civil protection mechanism, with Swedish water-bombing aircraft and Czech and Dutch helicopters on the way.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 15:36:00 UTC.
Update
Regional authorities in Wallonia said the wildfire remained uncontrolled.
Two Swedish water-bombing aircraft and helicopters from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands were being sent under the EU civil protection mechanism.
Three next-generation Belgian fire engines were deployed, according to Defence Minister Theo Francken.
Firefighting was complicated by the terrain of heath, peat bogs and raised wooden boardwalks.
Authorities said evacuation of Sourbrodt was still under consideration because of smoke, with no final decision taken.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 13:41:01 UTC.
Update
The nearby village of Sourbrodt, with about 500 residents, was under threat of evacuation.
A Wallonia regional spokesperson said evacuation was being considered because of smoke but no final decision had been taken.
The spokesperson said there was a risk the fire could reach homes.
An AFP journalist in Eupen saw the sky turning yellow and smoke columns in the distance.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 12:57:07 UTC.
Update
The wildfire is in the Fagnes natural park in eastern Belgium near the German border.
Authorities said the fire has burned at least 16 square kilometres since breaking out on Friday.
Firefighter reinforcements from Belgium and Germany have been called in.
Water bomber aircraft and helicopters were mobilised under the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism.
Source note: AFP news report published on 15 August 2026 at 12:14:29 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The cause of the wildfire remains unknown.
The fire had not been brought under control in the latest supplied information.
The exact timing for the arrival and deployment of all incoming air support was not specified.
Source
AFP news report published on .