High Fens Fire Exposes WWII Munitions in Belgian Nature Reserve

The largest wildfire in Belgium in over a century has uncovered a hidden legacy of war beneath the scorched landscape of the High Fens nature reserve. The blaze, which burned approximately 3,000 hectares of protected peat-bog and heathland in eastern Belgium since it broke out on August 14, has exposed grenades, shells, and other unexploded ordnance dating back to World War II, according to VRT NWS.

A Region Steeped in Wartime History

The High Fens plateau, straddling the Belgian-German border, was a key battleground during both World Wars. The occupier entered Belgium through this region during both conflicts, and the Battle of the Bulge was fought in and around the High Fens during the winter of 1944-45. The area also sits close to the Elsenborn Ridge and Hürtgen Forest battle sites, where the latter conflict lasted 88 days and killed approximately 33,000 American and 28,000 German troops.

This wartime history has left a dangerous residue. Jacques Callebaut, adjutant-major and communications officer of Belgium’s bomb disposal service DOVO, told VRT NWS that the region contains “quite a lot” of buried munitions. In the first four years after Germany’s surrender in 1945, munitions in the area killed six civilians, according to local historian Bernard Collard, who runs the Truschbaum Museum near Belgium’s border with Germany.

Sporadic Detonations in the Burn Zone

As the fire swept through the nature reserve, the intense heat exposed buried explosives and triggered what the services of Liège Governor Hervé Jamar described as “a few sporadic detonations.” While these explosions did not endanger emergency services at any point, they underscore the volatile nature of the terrain.

Callebaut explained the mechanism behind the spontaneous explosions: “The munitions are in fact resistant to certain temperatures and heat. But the fire can expose explosives or detonators. White phosphorus can also spontaneously ignite when it comes into contact with air.”

The discovery has prompted urgent warnings from authorities. “It’s very simple: if you find something, just stay away from it and notify the police,” Callebaut said. The area remains closed to the public, with roads through the region still blocked.

A European-Wide Phenomenon

The High Fens discovery is not an isolated incident. Wildfires across Europe this summer have exposed and detonated buried munitions from both World Wars, according to reporting by CBS News. Blasts have been reported in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, where a bomb-disposal team was dispatched to check a forest threatened by flames near a site of fierce fighting in the Limburg province in 1944.

In France, a massive wildfire near Bordeaux uncovered a cache of approximately 400 WWII-era shells and ammunition in the village of Le Porge. Mayor Martial Zaninetti said the blasts were similar to “the sound of war,” with one munition reportedly going “through a house.”

Drought has also revealed hidden ordnance. The Danube River in Slovakia exposed two naval mines, a WWII bomb emerged at the base of Budapest’s Margaret Bridge, and receding waters of the Rhine revealed a WWII-era bomb in Germany.

The Climate Change Connection

The fires that exposed these munitions are directly linked to climate change, which is creating conditions for more frequent and intense wildfires in regions previously considered low-risk. This wildfire season was supercharged by heavy rains in January that spurred vegetation growth, which became kindling when summer heat arrived. Drought conditions, low humidity, and stiff winds created an ideal environment for fire, according to a study by the World Weather Attribution group.

Sarah Njeri, a peace and conflict scholar at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, told The New Indian Express that “climate change is now doing the work of unburying and reactivating what was previously stable.” Christina Greene, a researcher at the University of Arizona, echoed this sentiment: “The legacy of war keeps creeping up.”

Belgium’s Climate Risk Center (CERAC) had warned in early 2025 that the country was not prepared for an increase in wildfires over the next 15-20 years. Following the High Fens fire, CERAC spokesperson Steven Vermeulen said, “This must be the last wake-up call,” as reported by VRT NWS.

An Ongoing Challenge for Demining Services

Belgium remains heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance from both World Wars. The country’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Destruction Service responds to more than 3,000 calls annually and disposes of 200-250 tons of munitions each year. Major hotspots include the High Fens, the Westhoek around Ypres, and the area around Bastogne.

DOVO already visits the High Fens region almost weekly for routine cleanup operations, according to Callebaut. However, actively searching for and clearing all munitions is impossible. “We don’t have the capability to do that,” he said. “That’s why we also rely on the help of our citizens.”

The fire has added urgency to these operations. Local historian Bernard Collard, who is authorized to scan former battlefields with a metal detector, emphasized the persistent danger: “You never know what you might come across, and you shouldn’t take it lightly.” He has found mortar shells, machine guns, helmets, and even a human skeleton in the area. “It’s part of our history. We live with it,” he said.

What’s Next

The High Fens fire was brought under control by August 20, but the area remains closed to the public due to ongoing risks, including exposed munitions. The perimeter of the burned area has been confirmed at 27 kilometers, covering 3,366 hectares—the largest wildfire in Belgium since 1911.

The incident raises critical questions about how Belgium and other European nations will manage the intersection of climate change and historical contamination. As RTBF reported, the Belgian demining service removes approximately 200 tons of munitions annually—a volume that has remained stable for decades but may face new pressures as climate-driven fires expose more buried ordnance.

Authorities are urging the public to report any suspicious objects they encounter and to stay away from restricted areas. The cleanup operation in the High Fens is expected to be a long-term effort, with DOVO teams working alongside other agencies to secure the region.

For now, the blackened landscape of the High Fens serves as a stark reminder that the scars of war—and the dangers they conceal—can resurface in unexpected ways, especially in a warming world.