Wallonia bars forest access as Hautes Fagnes fire rages

The Walloon Public Service has temporarily barred the public from forests and nature reserves in the cantons of Verviers, Malmedy and Elsenborn to protect people and let firefighters work, after a fire broke out in the Hautes Fagnes during an exceptional drought. The ministerial decree, signed at Namur on 17 August 2026, was published in the Moniteur Belge of 25 August 2026 under reference C-2026/006304 and remains in force until 31 August 2026 inclusive.

Legal basis and issuing authority

The measure was adopted by the Minister of Agriculture and Rurality, in charge of Forestry, Nature, Hunting and Fishing, acting under the Forest Code decree of 15 July 2008 (article 14) and the Walloon Government decree of 27 May 2009 implementing it (articles 19, 3° and 4°). The decree cites two grounds for the ban:

• the exceptional drought currently affecting Wallonia;
• the ongoing fire in the Hautes Fagnes, which poses a risk to people walking or moving through the forest.

Scope and duration of the ban

Under article 1, public circulation is prohibited throughout the perimeter shown on the map annexed to the decree, covering the cantons of Verviers, Malmedy and Elsenborn. The restriction applies to walkers and residents alike and runs until 31 August 2026 inclusive.

Exceptions and enforcement

Article 2 provides that the ban does not apply to activities authorised by the Chef de cantonnement (head of the forestry district) or to operations linked to firefighting. Under article 3, the restriction is announced using the sign model set out in annex 3 of the Walloon Government decree of 27 May 2009.

Impact on the region

The decree affects a heavily visited upland area of eastern Wallonia, where the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve draws hikers and residents during the summer season. By closing the forests and reserves until the end of August, the authorities aim to keep the public clear of the fire zone and to avoid hindering the firefighting and site-securing operations, while leaving the door open for locally authorised activities.

Source: Moniteur Belge, 25 August 2026, p. 46374 (official reference: C-2026/006304).