Hoge Venen Fire Flares Up; Commander Reflects with Pride
The wildfire that has devastated approximately 3,000 hectares of Belgium’s Hoge Venen nature reserve flared up again in several locations overnight, prompting continued firefighting efforts. About 100 firefighters remain on standby in the area to intervene where needed, according to VRT NWS.
The fire, which broke out on August 14 near Jalhay, about 10 kilometers from Spa, has become one of the largest wildfires ever recorded in Belgian history. While the greatest fire danger has passed, officials warn that flare-ups could continue for weeks as the fire smolders underground in the dry peat soil.
Access Restrictions Remain
Access to the affected area remains strictly forbidden. Roads N68, N672, and N676 remain closed to all traffic, and the forest districts of Verviers, Malmedy, and Elsenborn remain off-limits. Governor of Liege Province Hervé Jamar has warned that “real dangers remain, sometimes invisible,” noting that the absence of flames or visible smoke does not mean the area is safe.
New air quality measurements showed no cause for concern, according to the governor’s office. Some monitoring stations registered elevated fine particle concentrations during the second half of the night due to a temperature inversion, but values returned to normal at sunrise.
A Commander’s Pride
Flemish fire brigade coordinator Niels Bauwens reflected on the operation on Radio 1’s “De Ochtend,” expressing enormous pride in the coordinated response. “I am enormously proud of all the fire services that were at work,” Bauwens said, describing the physical toll on firefighters who worked in treacherous terrain.
“The terrain of the Hoge Venen is full of holes and bumps, so there are plenty of sprained ankles,” he said. “We’ve also had to retreat a few times, which we’re not used to. Fortunately, we’ve been preparing for years and have invested in equipment, procedures, and training for this.”
Bauwens emphasized the mental and physical challenges faced by crews who worked in eight-hour shifts in mud, rain, and smoke. “They were driven by car, so they weren’t allowed to drive themselves because they were simply exhausted,” he said.
The demanding conditions were also highlighted by VRT NWS, which reported that two Flemish firefighters were hospitalized with smoke inhalation during the operation. Firefighters worked without compressed air tanks because carrying them during wildfires is “physically almost impossible,” according to firefighter Michael De Nijs.
International Cooperation
The firefighting effort drew on resources from across Europe. Fire services from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden cooperated, with Dutch Chinook helicopters, Norwegian helicopters, and Swedish water-bombing aircraft deployed. German firefighters departed on August 20, and other international assets left by August 23.
At its peak, approximately 350 to 500 people were involved in the firefighting effort, including Belgian and German firefighters, police, and civil protection personnel. The NOS reported that the fire was “largely under control” thanks in part to heavy rainfall that helped extinguish the blaze.
Environmental Devastation
The ecological toll is severe. The Hoge Venen is Belgium’s largest nature reserve and home to rare species, including the last remaining population of black grouse in Belgium. A rare black grouse was rescued from the burned peatland, but the population of only about 35 birds is feared to be nearly wiped out, as VRT NWS reported.
Environmental organizations have warned of the long-term consequences. “What goes up in smoke is also our natural heritage,” said Laurence Drèze, biodiversity policy officer at WWF-Belgium. “The Hoge Venen harbor a rare nature, rich in unique biodiversity. Every hectare counts.” The De Wereld Morgen reported that the fire was exacerbated by decades of poor policy, including drainage of peatlands for spruce plantations in the 19th century.
Political Fallout
The disaster has sparked political debate about Belgium’s preparedness for wildfires. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin defended the government’s response in Parliament, saying “the fact that we requested foreign aid doesn’t mean our system failed. On the contrary, that’s precisely part of our preparation and our resilience.”
Opposition parties were critical. PVDA parliamentarian Sofie Merckx argued that “we don’t need a military plan against wildfires, but a civilian plan,” while N-VA called for accelerating the planned purchase of heavy helicopters. The P-magazine noted that commission chair Ortwin Depoortere (Vlaams Belang) responded sharply to Quintin’s defense: “If I had let you talk for another hour, according to you there probably wouldn’t have been any fire in the Hoge Venen at all.”
The King Baudouin Foundation has raised more than 73,000 euros for its solidarity fund to support habitat restoration and scientific research in the affected area.
What’s Next
With flare-ups expected to continue for weeks and underground smoldering potentially lasting months, the firefighting operation is far from over. The public prosecutor’s office has not yet been able to begin investigating the fire’s cause because the terrain remains too dangerous and inaccessible in the northern zone.
As the De Wereld Morgen analysis noted, the fire has exposed deeper questions about wetland restoration and climate resilience. “Wetlands work as a large sponge in the landscape,” the analysis stated. “In a flood-prone region like Flanders, we cannot afford to neglect our wetlands.” The debate over Belgium’s preparedness for wildfires - and the lessons to be drawn from this disaster - is only just beginning.