Peat and pine plantations turned the High Fens fire into a national catastrophe

Verification record

• 📚 6 verified sources — Het Nieuwsblad · Associated Press — Belgian wildfire approaches Germany · Associated Press — Firefighters battle wildfires in Belgium and Greece · Service public de Wallonie — High Fens fire instructions · Service public de Wallonie — wildfire-risk statement · East Belgium tourism — High Fens forest history
• 🧠 High confidence — AI-checked, editor-approved
• 🇧🇪 Belgian impact: High
• 📜 Provenance recorded & timestamped