Lanklaarderbos Wildfire Under Control as Arson Probe Begins

A wildfire that broke out in the Lanklaarderbos forest in Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium, has been brought under control, though a flare-up on Thursday morning forced firefighters to return to the scene. The public prosecutor’s office in Limburg has launched an investigation into possible arson after multiple separate fire sources were discovered at two nearly simultaneous blazes.

Two Fires, One Evening

On Wednesday evening, July 15, between approximately 20:00 and 21:00, two wildfires erupted nearly simultaneously in East Limburg. The first broke out in the Lanklaarderbos in Dilsen-Stokkem around 20:15, while the second ignited at the Opglabbekerzavel in Genk, near the KRC Genk football stadium.

According to VRT NWS, the Lanklaarderbos fire was a relatively large blaze. “We deployed five fire engines and three tanker trucks. We also received reinforcement from a federal police helicopter, allowing us to map the fire well,” said Karen De Smedt, spokesperson for the East Limburg Fire Brigade Zone.

The Genk fire, which burned approximately one hectare of nature, was fully under control by around 22:00 on Wednesday evening.

Morning Flare-Up

On Thursday morning around 07:30, the Lanklaarderbos fire flared up again due to underground smoldering. “It concerns underground fire that causes small flames and smoldering earth above ground,” De Smedt explained. At least 40 ares (0.4 hectares) were lost in the re-ignition, an area roughly equivalent to half a professional football pitch.

The fire brigade estimates the intervention will continue until early Thursday afternoon. The affected area is difficult to reach, requiring firefighters to proceed on foot.

Arson Investigation Underway

The discovery of multiple separate fire sources at both locations, combined with their near-simultaneous timing, has led the public prosecutor’s office to investigate the possibility of arson. Marijke Teunis, spokesperson for the Limburg Public Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed: “We are sending a fire expert and the lab to the scene today. The possibility of arson is open.”

Fire Brigade Under Strain

The East Limburg fire brigade zone has already responded to approximately 15 wildfire interventions this week alone, as extreme heat and drought conditions persist. The strain on personnel is significant. “Typical of wildfires is that we have to go back at least one to several times for flare-ups. So that piles up,” De Smedt told VRT NWS. “Our people also have to relieve each other more quickly in these temperatures. That demands a lot from our personnel and officers.”

Code Orange and Drought

Since Monday, July 13, code orange (high risk) for wildfires has been in effect across Flanders, as reported by TV Limburg. The Agency for Nature and Forest escalated the danger level due to the forecast heatwave and lack of meaningful precipitation, which has caused upper soil layers and vegetation to dry out. Under code orange, open fires are prohibited and fire towers are staffed.

The drought has also led to a pumping ban on non-navigable waterways across the entire province of Limburg, enacted on July 15. A significant fire in the Mechels Bos in Maasmechelen earlier this week burned 8 hectares of dense nature.

Broader Context

The wildfires in Limburg are part of a wider pattern of extreme weather across Europe in summer 2026. Belgium experienced its deadliest heatwave of the century in June, with 1,747 excess deaths recorded. France has battled a massive wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest near Paris, burning over 2,050 hectares, while Italy has seen code red in multiple regions with temperatures reaching 45°C.

What to Watch For

The fire expert and forensic lab dispatched by the public prosecutor’s office will determine whether the fires were deliberately set. Meanwhile, with code orange remaining in effect and no significant rainfall forecast, the risk of further wildfires in Flanders remains high. The East Limburg fire brigade continues mopping-up operations and warns residents to exercise extreme caution — no open fires in nature and no use of weed burners.