Full Breakdown
Record-Breaking Wildfires Sweep Belgium and Greece
8/17/2026, 3:52:48 AM
The Blazes in Detail
On Friday a wildfire ignited in the High Fens nature reserve in eastern Belgium, near the German border. By Sunday it had spread to roughly 3,000 hectares (about 7,500 acres), the largest blaze in the country’s modern history. The fire burned peat bogs, heathland and pine forest, terrain that hampers ground access and forces crews to rely on aerial assets.
The same weekend a fire broke out on the Greek island of Salamina, west of Athens. Strong winds fanned two ignitions that quickly reached residential zones. Two people—identified as an elderly couple—were found dead on Peristeria beach, and hundreds of beachgoers were evacuated by sea.
Background and Climate Context
Both incidents occurred amid a heat wave that pushed temperatures in Belgium to about 37 °C (98.6 °F) and produced similarly extreme conditions across southern Europe. EU crisis-management officials have linked the intensity of the fires to “human-caused climate change,” describing the situation as a new “climate upheaval” driving earlier and more northerly wildfire seasons.
Data and Scale
- Belgium: ? 3,000 ha burned; > 250 emergency personnel deployed, including > 100 Belgian and German firefighters; 15+ helicopters and water-bombing aircraft from several EU countries; ? 600 residents evacuated; a gymnasium in Malmedy used as a shelter; no homes reported damaged as of Sunday.
- Greece: ? 260 firefighters, 15 ground teams, 10 aircraft and eight helicopters engaged; coast-guard vessels evacuated roughly 570 beachgoers; two fatalities confirmed; several homes damaged and nine people treated for burns.
Official Responses
Liège provincial governor Hervé Jamar announced the deployment of more than 250 responders and urged residents and tourists to leave the area. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said fire fronts toward the German town of Monschau were “under control” and thanked farmers for supplying water.
EU Civil-Protection Commissioner Hadja Lahbib activated the Union’s emergency mechanism, stating that “the High Fens are burning. Belgium is not facing it alone.” She emphasized that the blaze exemplifies a broader “climate upheaval” across Europe.
Wallonia’s public-service spokesperson Nicolas Yernaux warned of a risk to homes and said all available resources were being deployed. Chief engineer René Dahmen described a kilometre-long line advancing toward a municipal forest on the eastern flank.
In Greece, Fire Brigadier General Vasileios Vathrakogiannis explained that wind-driven conditions allowed the fire to reach dangerous proportions within minutes. Deputy mayor Thodoris Zannis coordinated sea evacuations and requested additional ferry capacity.
On the Ground
Local residents reported near-zero visibility from dense smoke. Restaurant owner David Rodolfs in Waimes said, “You can’t see a thing anymore, there’s smoke everywhere.” Farmers from both Belgium and Germany filled tanker trucks with lake water and drove to the front lines, while the Belgian Red Cross set up a shelter offering food, water and rest for the most vulnerable evacuees.
Conflicting Figures
Sources differ on the exact size of the Belgian fire: some report “about 30 sq km” (? 3,000 ha), while others cite “2,700 ha” or “3,000 ha.” All agree the blaze exceeds the 2011 record.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The High Fens are burning. Belgium is not facing it alone,” — Hadja Lahbib, EU commissioner
- “There is a risk that the fire could reach homes, but we are deploying all available resources to protect them,” — Nicolas Yernaux, Wallonia public-service spokesperson
- “We are here to provide them with information and meet their basic needs; that is, food, water and somewhere to rest, particularly for the most vulnerable people,” — Romane Bouhaben, Belgian Red Cross representative
