International Reinforcements Mobilized Again for Fagnes Fire
Nearly two weeks after the largest wildfire in Belgian history ignited in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve, international firefighting reinforcements have been mobilized once again as crews continue to battle persistent blazes on the north and east fronts. About 80 personnel remain deployed daily, with a German police helicopter deployed Saturday to allow Belgian crews to observe mandatory rest periods, according to RTBF.
A Historic Blaze
The fire began on August 14 around 1 PM in the Fagne des Deux-Series, on the territory of the municipality of Baelen, and was first spotted by parachutists from the air. It has since consumed approximately 3,366 hectares (8,317 acres) of protected Natura 2000 habitat, including active raised bogs, heathlands, and peatlands, making it the largest wildfire ever recorded in Belgium. The previous record was set in 2011, also in the Hautes Fagnes.
International Response
This weekend, five German vehicles and about thirty personnel have arrived through the EMRIC cross-border partnership of the Eurorregion Meuse-Rhin, along with a specialized 40-ton “Super FireFighting” vehicle to support firefighting and clearing operations. During the initial response, Dutch CH-47 Chinook helicopters and Swedish Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss aircraft were also deployed, alongside Norwegian helicopters.
Strong south-westerly winds of 20 km/h with gusts reaching 40-50 km/h are favoring fire re-ignition and spread, according to the governor’s services. The N68 road remains closed to traffic at least until Wednesday, September 2, to reserve the route for emergency vehicles, particularly near the Drossart roundabout.
Investigation into the Cause
The Liege public prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial investigation for involuntary arson. The leading hypothesis is that an agricultural machine used for mowing operations may have sparked the fire. An RTBF investigation used satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts to identify the precise location where the fire originated, confirming that mowing work had been undertaken on the parcel between August 10 and 14.
“Mowing is a technique carried out by the DNF for many years on the Hautes-Fagnes plateau to restore biodiversity,” said Nicolas Yernaux, spokesperson for the SPW. “It will indeed be up to the investigation to determine whether this hypothesis of the agricultural machine is confirmed or denied, but there was indeed an agricultural machine working at that location.”
The CELEX expertise cell had warned of elevated fire risk from August 10-15, with particularly high risk in open areas. While the Province of Luxembourg banned mowing until August 14, no such ban was imposed in the Province of Liege where the Hautes Fagnes are located. Governor Hervé Jamar defended his actions, stating he had taken all measures within his regulatory powers.
Environmental Impact
The fire has devastated an ecologically irreplaceable landscape. Peat fires continue to smolder underground, requiring ongoing surveillance. Nearly 800 micrograms of fine particles per cubic meter of air were measured southwest of the plateau, with smoke reaching as far as northern France. Of 13 black grouse tracked by GPS, 6 remain untraceable after the fire.
The municipality of Baelen, where the fire originated, will seek to become a civil party in the judicial investigation, with the decision to be submitted to the municipal council on September 14. Mayor Nathalie Thönnissen emphasized: “This approach does not mean we are naming a responsible party today: we simply want to give ourselves the means to assert the damages suffered by our territory once the causes of the fire are established.”
Political Response and Recovery
Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont defended the regional government’s crisis management before the Walloon Parliament, stating that risk monitoring had been activated since spring and that CELEX warnings were issued. He acknowledged that “the restoration of the Hautes Fagnes will be a long-term effort” requiring collaboration with scientists, field managers, nature protection associations, and concerned municipalities, with the goal of “rebuilding a more resilient ecosystem in the face of tomorrow’s climate challenges.”
The Walloon Region plans to request aid from the European Union Solidarity Fund as a regional natural disaster. As philosopher Simon Brunfaut reflected on the cultural loss: “We have lost a part of our memory. We have also lost an illusion - the illusion that certain landscapes are eternal.”
What’s Next
As the fire continues to smolder and resurge, particularly on the north and east fronts, authorities maintain a permanent surveillance presence. The judicial investigation into the fire’s origin will take several months to complete, with expert reports expected to shed light on the circumstances that led to Belgium’s worst wildfire. The long-term restoration of the Hautes Fagnes ecosystem will be a multi-year endeavor, with questions remaining about how to prevent similar disasters in an era of increasing climate volatility.