Published on 05 Jun 2023
Forest fire in the Fagnes
On 30 May, a fire broke out in the Fagnes, ravaging more than 170 hectares of vegetation (the equivalent of 230 football pitches). Yet Belgium was not on the European map of the driest areas, which covers the areas the most threatened by fire outbreaks.
Fortunately, the fire was quickly brought under control, preventing a larger blaze.
Human resources mobilised
More than 130 firefighters were mobilised to quickly fight the flames and avoid a catastrophe for the flora. This mobilisation was necessary because the Fagnes is a fairly complicated terrain (unstable and spongy).
Human or natural origin?
At this stage, the fire appears to have been caused by humans, as no natural phenomena such as thunderstorms or lightning have been recorded in the area.
