Belgium's worst wildfire burns 3,300 ha in Hautes Fagnes; heat deaths near 3,000

Belgium experienced its worst wildfire on record, burning over 3,300 hectares in the Hautes Fagnes, while nearly 3,000 people died from summer heat. The event exposed gaps between prevention scenarios and real-world fire evolution, prompting a national debrief. The scale of the fire and heat mortality marks a significant climate-driven emergency for a temperate country.