Weather conditions and vegetation have increased the risk of wildfires this spring, warns the Ministry of Wallonia (SPW).
Expected winds in the coming days will further elevate the danger, especially in open and semi-open areas like Famenne and Hautes-Fagnes.
Despite the current situation not being exceptional climatically, the SPW urges citizens to remain vigilant. Preventative measures include a strict ban on lighting fires in forests, discarding cigarette butts, parking cars in tall grass, and burning green waste within 25 metres of wooded areas.
A red flag has been raised in the Hautes-Fagnes nature reserve since 20 March, prohibiting any walks in the area. "Highly flammable grass can cause fires to spread rapidly, potentially trapping walkers," warns SPW spokesperson, Nicolas Yernaux.
Wallonia's largest recorded wildfire occurred under similar conditions on 25 April 2011 in Hautes-Fagnes, burning nearly 1,200 hectares of vegetation. Nine in ten wildfires in Wallonia are caused by human negligence.
