Brussels, August 16, 2026: Belgium is battling its largest wildfire on record, with the massive blaze in the High Fens nature reserve in the east of the country spreading towards the German border.

The fire, which began on Friday, had burned around 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) by Sunday morning, making it more than twice the size of a major wildfire recorded in Belgium in 2011.

Firefighters from Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg are working alongside the Belgian military and local farmers to contain the flames. Emergency teams are concentrating their efforts on the eastern front of the fire as it moves towards Germany.

Several villages have been evacuated as a precaution because of changing winds and heavy smoke. Authorities in the German border town of Monschau have also warned residents about smoke pollution and advised people in affected areas to leave if necessary.

The European Union has deployed emergency firefighting assistance, including helicopters and water-bombing aircraft, to support Belgian authorities. Difficult terrain in the High Fens has made it challenging for crews to tackle the fire directly.

Authorities are hoping that cooler temperatures and increased humidity will help slow the spread and allow firefighters to bring the blaze under control. So far, no homes have been reported affected by the fire.

The wildfire comes amid an intense heatwave across Europe, with scientists warning that increasingly hot and dry conditions are contributing to a growing risk of severe wildfires.