Fire in Hautes Fagnes Slowed by Rain, Situation Remains…

Fire in Hautes Fagnes Slowed by Rain, Situation Remains Uncertain

18.08.2026 14:02 HotInfo

Rescue workers continue fighting a large-scale fire in the Belgian natural area Hautes Fagnes near the border with Germany. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin stated that favorable weather on Monday significantly slowed the spread of the fire, but warned that the situation remains unpredictable. sme.sk/world ↗

The fire is affecting the Hohes Venn nature reserve, which lies close to the German border. According to available information, the flames were at one point approximately 2.3 kilometers from the border and were still burning at a distance of roughly two kilometers from German territory. German units from the city of Monschau in the Eifel region have also been involved in the operation. During the night, 240 German rescue workers fought the fire. Tagesspiegel ↗

The weather significantly affects the course of the operation. The German meteorological service Deutscher Wetterdienst reported rain and wind gusts for North Rhine-Westphalia, with precipitation expected to reach the fire area in the Eifel as well. Stronger showers were already moving through the area west of the region in the morning. Rescue workers expect more substantial rain, which could help with firefighting. teraz.sk ↗

However, wind remains a risk, as it can change the direction and intensity of the flames' spread despite the rainfall. Authorities therefore continue to assess the situation as unstable, and further developments will depend primarily on the combination of rain, wind, and the work of firefighting teams in the border region.

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