Wildfire in Wellin Contained but Not Yet Fully Extinguished
A wildfire that broke out in Halma, a sub-municipality of Wellin in Belgium’s Luxembourg province, has been contained within a perimeter but is not yet fully extinguished, authorities confirmed Thursday morning. The blaze, which ignited Wednesday afternoon amid severe drought conditions, has burned approximately 40 hectares of pastures and forested land, according to VRT NWS.
Firefighters Face Days of Work
The fire started in roadside verges and fields in the early afternoon on Wednesday and spread rapidly through dry vegetation, with a smoke plume visible up to 15 kilometers away. By Wednesday evening, the fire was contained within a perimeter, but multiple significant flare-ups occurred during the night, requiring firefighters to remain active throughout.
“There were several major flare-ups during the night,” Stéphane Thiry, commander of the Luxembourg emergency zone, told RTBF. Speaking Thursday morning, Thiry confirmed that “the envelope (perimeter) of the fire is under control, but about thirty men are in action on the ground to wet the area and prevent new fire starts.”
Mayor of Wellin, Benoît Closson, reported that three new fire starts occurred during the night but were quickly brought under control. “The fire is not yet fixed, but the fire is contained within a perimeter, so it is relatively controlled,” Closson said, as reported by RTL Info.
Firefighters estimate that at least two more days of work are needed due to water evaporation from the drought and heat, according to L’Avenir.
Large-Scale Response and Community Support
Approximately 100 firefighters were mobilized, with reinforcements from the Dinaphi and Liège zones and the Civil Protection. Two helicopters provided air support, and drones were deployed for surveillance. The response also included firefighters from Marche-en-Famenne, Paliseul, Saint-Hubert, Beauraing, and Rochefort, as La Libre reported.
Local farmers played a crucial role in the firefighting effort, helping spread water over the land. “There is massive help from the farmers, so it warms the heart. Really thank you to them,” Closson said. “And also the help from the Fond des Vaulx quarry, which has a fairly large water reserve nearby.”
Three homes were evacuated preventively, and a herd of cows had to be moved to safety. Residents have since been able to return to their homes. The E-411 highway exit at Wellin was temporarily closed to slow the influx of curious onlookers.
There was significant concern that the fire would spread to a nearby 3,000-hectare forest, but firefighters managed to prevent this. “The firefighters managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the large 3,000-hectare forest,” Closson confirmed.
Simultaneous Fires Across the Province
The Wellin fire was not the only blaze that day. A second, simultaneous fire broke out in Habay-la-Neuve, about 50 kilometers away, deep in the Anlier forest. That fire affected approximately 3 hectares and was particularly complex due to its location far from paved roads. More than 110 firefighters were mobilized across both fires for over 24 hours, according to L’Avenir. A third fire also broke out in Somme-Leuze when a tractor caught fire and flames spread to a field.
The cause of the Wellin fire is not yet known, but police believe it may have been accidental. “We don’t have the exact location yet, but it’s possible this was accidental,” said Vincent Léonard, first divisional commissioner of the Semois and Lesse police zone. “A piece of glass with the heat creates a magnifying effect.”
Growing Wildfire Risk in Belgium
The fires come amid a severe heatwave and drought gripping Belgium in August 2026, with temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius in Brussels. The European observatory Copernicus confirmed that Western Europe experienced its hottest start to summer ever recorded.
According to TV Lux, the current climatic conditions and drought do not reassure emergency zones, which fear that situations like those encountered in Wellin and Habay could recur in the near future.
Experts have warned that Belgium is not sufficiently prepared for the growing risk of wildfires. Climatologist Sébastien Doutreloup of ULiège noted that Wallonia, with its 30% forest cover, is increasingly at risk of fires similar to those seen in France, which has already seen over 119,000 hectares burned this summer, as RTBF reported.
What’s Next
Firefighters remain on site at Wellin, with about thirty personnel actively wetting the area to prevent new flare-ups. Given the forecast conditions for the end of the week, site surveillance will likely be necessary for several days. The municipal crisis cell has been disbanded, and evacuated residents have returned home, but the fire is not yet fully extinguished, and the threat of new outbreaks remains as long as the drought persists.