Wildfire Closes Part of Eastern Belgium to Visitors
Belgium’s largest wildfire on record has burned around 3,000 hectares of the High Fens nature reserve in Liège province, close to the German border. The blaze began on 14 August and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. By Tuesday morning, 18 August, Walloon authorities said the fire was contained, although it was still moving slowly through an area that ground crews could not reach.
What Visitors Need to Know
- Fire area: High Fens, eastern Liège province
- Started: 14 August, near Baelen
- Area affected: Around 3,000 hectares
- Current status: Contained as of 08:00 on 18 August, with limited spread in inaccessible terrain
- Evacuations: Around 600 people were initially evacuated from areas around Waimes and Bütgenbach
- Still restricted: Parts of Küchelscheid and Leykaul
- Road closures: N68, N672 and N676
- Visitor access: The affected area and the Eupen and Gileppe dam sites remain closed
Around 500 people and more than 120 vehicles remain involved in the response, supported by aircraft and crews from several European countries. Some Sourbrodt residents were allowed home on Monday evening, but parts of Küchelscheid and Leykaul remain under evacuation restrictions. Authorities are also warning visitors to stay away from the affected area, while the N68, N672 and N676 roads remain closed.
Belgium’s main city-break destinations, including Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp, are well away from the fire zone. The disruption is concentrated in eastern Liège province, so most urban trips can continue as planned. Visits to the High Fens and the Eupen and Gileppe dam sites should be postponed, however, as access remains restricted and smoke is affecting air quality across parts of the region.
Anyone travelling to eastern Belgium should check local road closures and official Walloon updates before setting out. The UK Foreign Office has not issued a warning against travel to Belgium, but that does not override local restrictions around the fire. Smoke conditions can change with the wind, and people with respiratory or heart conditions are being advised to limit time outdoors in affected areas.
