Natuurpunt Warns After Candles Found in Kiewit Forest Game

Natuurpunt Hasselt-Zonhoven has issued a public warning after a conservator discovered a forest game involving candles in the Kiewit nature reserve in Hasselt, Limburg, last weekend. With vegetation extremely dry and Belgium under code orange for wildfire danger, the organization is urging youth groups to “play with water, not with fire.”

The Discovery

The conservator stumbled upon the game in the enclosed section of the reserve, which surrounds the local children’s farm. Participants were instructed to extinguish tea lights with water pistols, with instructions written on a piece of cardboard found alongside the candles.

“There were candles that participants had to extinguish with water pistols,” Eric Goossens of Natuurpunt Hasselt-Zonhoven told VRT NWS. The conservator immediately removed the items to eliminate the fire risk.

“Those tea lights were lying between the wood on the ground. It couldn’t be more fire-hazardous, especially with this drought,” Goossens said. “Even though they’re just small tea lights, even a small flame can have major consequences at this time.”

Record Wildfire Season

The incident comes amid Belgium’s worst wildfire season on record. The country has already recorded 117 wildfires in 2026 — more than the entire year of 2025 and nearly double the annual average of 62 wildfires between 2010 and 2025, according to UGent researchers.

Limburg, where Kiewit is located, is the hardest-hit province, accounting for about one-fifth of all wildfires this year. Approximately 31 hectares of nature have burned — the equivalent of about 60 football fields. More than 95 percent of wildfires have a human cause, either through carelessness or deliberate arson.

Code Orange Fire Danger

Since July 13, all Flemish provinces have been under code orange (high danger) for wildfire risk, escalated from yellow by the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forest (ANB). The elevated status means no smoking or open fires in forests and nature reserves, staying on designated paths, and heightened vigilance from emergency services.

“Together with all our forest rangers and supervisors, we ask for great vigilance from everyone,” said Jeroen Denaeghel, spokesperson for ANB, as reported by Ninofmedia. “Stay at the edge of the nature reserve and don’t leave children unattended. If you notice a suspicious smoke plume, report it immediately via number 112.”

Flemish Minister for Environment and Agriculture Jo Brouns described the situation as serious, noting that “wildfires are a phenomenon we will be confronted with more and more in the future.”

Youth Camps Under Scrutiny

The Kiewit discovery follows at least three youth camps in the province of Luxembourg that were stopped early for violating fire prevention rules, including a group from Mortsel that set off fireworks despite the wildfire risk. Mayors ordered the camps to end prematurely to protect vegetation and avoid fire risk.

Goossens stressed that Natuurpunt does not believe the Kiewit game was organized with malicious intent, but emphasized the recklessness of the activity under current conditions. “You hear every day in the news that a fire breaks out somewhere, it can happen here too,” he said. “We’re in code orange, nature is bone dry, and Flanders has already seen a record number of wildfires this year. These games may be fun, but totally irresponsible now.”

Climate Change Connection

Researchers note that climate change is driving the increased wildfire risk. Extreme drought events in Western Europe that used to occur once every 25 years now happen once every five years, according to the World Weather Attribution group. As vegetation becomes drier and more flammable, the risk of wildfires spreading grows significantly.

“The impact of climate change is not limited to the countries around the Mediterranean Sea,” warned Professor Jan Baetens of UGent. “Better monitoring, more awareness among the general public, and good cooperation between scientists, land managers, emergency services and governments are essential” to limit the impact of wildfires.

Preparedness and Forward Look

Natuurpunt plans to consult with the fire department and other nature reserves to develop an action plan for potential wildfires. “We really don’t want to take any risk,” Goossens said. “If a fire breaks out, we want to be prepared.”

As Belgium continues to experience extreme heat and drought conditions, authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution in natural areas. The Flemish Drought Commission is scheduled to meet again on August 13, and stricter measures — including potential closure of nature reserves — could follow if conditions worsen.

For now, Natuurpunt’s message is clear: “As a youth movement, you’d better play with water than with fire.”