Fire in the High Fens is not yet the largest fire in Belgian history
The fire that has been raging in the High Fens since Friday was previously dubbed "the largest fire in Belgian history”, but it seems that this is not yet the case. According to previous research by the University of Liège, a fire in 1911 destroyed even more hectares.
Currently, the fire has already reduced over 3,000 hectares to ashes, but a fire in the High Fens in 1911 was estimated to be even larger, covering up to 3,900 hectares. The current fire is, however, certainly the largest in recent Belgian history.
According to university researchers, a fire broke out in the High Fens in August 1911 after a scorching summer. It quickly earned the nickname 'Dante's Inferno'. The fire extended across the Belgian-Prussian border (present-day Germany). More than 2,000 soldiers on the scene could not prevent an estimated 3,900 hectares from being reduced to ashes. Researches note that part of the historic fire raged on the territory of Prussia, in areas that were only added to Belgian territory later.
