BRUSSELS,22nd August, 2026 (WAM) -- The Belgian government has announced plans to draw up a national action plan to strengthen the country's capacity to tackle wildfires and climate-related crises, following the largest wildfire recorded in Belgium.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin told the Chamber of Representatives' Interior Committee that the fire in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve in eastern Belgium burned more than 3,000 hectares of wetlands and pine forests and prompted evacuations before being brought under control.
Quintin said the fire should serve as an opportunity to strengthen efforts, noting that climate-related risks, particularly wildfires, would feature prominently in the new resilience plan.
He added that the government would increase funding for civil protection, noting that Belgium had already invested in equipment and ground resources.