Baele, Belgium: Firefighters battled a major wildfire in eastern Belgium on Sunday after the blaze burned through more than 27 square kilometres of land in the High Fens nature reserve, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.

The fire, described by local media as one of the worst wildfires in Belgium's recent history, has spread across the protected area in Liège Province, near the German border.

Around 600 residents in the nearby municipalities of Waimes and Bütgenbach were ordered to evacuate on Saturday as shifting winds pushed smoke toward populated areas. Authorities also advised tourists to leave the region, while a local gymnasium was opened to accommodate evacuees.

Liège Provincial Governor Hervé Jamar said more than 250 emergency personnel had been deployed, including over 100 Belgian and German firefighters, alongside police, military personnel and civil protection teams.

Firefighting efforts have also been supported by helicopters operated by Belgium's federal police and the Netherlands.

Authorities said no homes had been damaged as of Sunday morning, although the fire remained close to residential areas and dense smoke continued to affect the region.

Residents were urged to avoid the fire zone, with officials warning that unnecessary traffic could hinder emergency operations and slow firefighting efforts.

Fire department emergency vehicles stand on a street near an operations center to fight wildfires at the Hautes Fagnes near Eupen, in Belgium, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. AP

The wildfire follows several weeks of unusually hot and dry weather in Belgium. Efforts to contain the blaze have been complicated by the High Fens' landscape, which consists largely of heathland and peat bogs.

In neighbouring Germany, authorities in the town of Monschau warned that the fire had moved to within about three kilometres of the border. Residents in three outlying districts were advised overnight to leave temporarily because of potential health risks from smoke.

Belgium experienced another period of intense heat this week, with temperatures reaching approximately 37°C in some parts of the country on Friday.

Massive wildfire in Belgium forces evacuations as blaze burns through 27 square kilometres