Belgium's largest recorded wildfire forces evacuations and moves toward German border

A massive wildfire, the largest ever recorded in Belgium, erupted in the heavily forested Ardennes region on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of roughly 600 residents from nearby villages. Firefighters from the Belgian Civil Protection, the Federal Police and the European Civil Protection Mechanism were mobilized within hours, and a state of emergency was declared for the affected municipalities.

The blaze, fueled by unusually dry conditions and strong winds, quickly spread across more than 2,500 hectares, threatening homes, infrastructure and wildlife habitats. Authorities established a perimeter to protect the town of Stavelot and surrounding hamlets, while aerial water drops and ground crews worked to contain the flames. As the fire advanced toward the eastern border, German emergency services were placed on alert, and coordinated cross‑border monitoring was initiated to prevent the fire from reaching German towns such as Aachen and Monschau.

By late evening, containment lines had slowed the fire’s progress, allowing officials to begin a phased return for evacuated families under strict safety checks. The incident remains under investigation to determine its precise cause, and officials have urged residents to adhere to fire‑prevention guidelines as the region recovers and restores affected areas.