High risk of forest fires in Bavaria: Safety in nature is urgently needed!

High risk of forest fires in Bavaria: Safety in nature is urgently needed!

Today, June 20, 2025, the German Weather Service (DWD) reports an increased risk of forest fires throughout Bavaria. This is due to persistent dry conditions and rising temperatures creating a worrying situation. The Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office points out that citizens and guests of the region should exercise particular caution in nature and forests. This particularly applies to carelessly throwing away glowing or burning objects, such as cigarette butts. Campfires are also only permitted in designated areas to minimize the risk of a forest fire. An aerial observation flight has also been arranged for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district for Sunday, June 22nd. A decrease in the risk of forest fires is expected with the onset of rain, thunderstorms and a slight cooling on Monday, reports the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office.

The current situation is critical considering that the risk of forest fires in Germany is usually assessed on a five-stage scale. A value of 1 indicates very low danger, while a value of 5 indicates very high danger. As of today, values ​​of 4 and 5 have already been recorded in Bavaria, including the stations in Ostheim vor der Rhön and Sandberg, where the danger levels have reached the highest level several times. The remaining federal states are also affected, with increased values ​​also being observed in many regions. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example in Münster/Osnabrück, a medium to high risk of 2 to 4 is reported.

Causes and important information

The causes of the increasing risk of forest fires are diverse and depend on various factors. The weather plays a crucial role. In 2018 and 2019 in particular, there was a significant increase in forest fires due to extreme dryness and heat, especially in the northeastern federal states. The Federal Environment Agency also reports that the weather-related risk of forest fires remained the same during this period or increased in some areas. Important causes of ignition are often negligent actions and arson. The Federal Environment Agency informed that classic precautionary measures, such as the construction of wound strips and water extraction points, have been further developed in order to be able to react better to outbreaks in the future.

With increasing awareness of these dangers comes measures to improve wildfire monitoring and suppression. Aerial observation flights and modern technologies such as digital sensors, which enable faster information transfer, play an important role here. The goal is clear: to noticeably reduce the risk of forest fires in Germany.

Precautions and recommendations for action

Against this background, it is important that everyone who spends time in nature or works in forests be particularly careful. The recommendations of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen District Office are clear: Follow the safety instructions and avoid lighting fires in prohibited areas. Everyone should reconsider their behavior so as not to increase the risk of a forest fire. Carelessly throwing away cigarette butts or other flammable items can have devastating consequences.

Keep your eyes open on your next trip into nature and protect our forests for future generations. Together we can make an important contribution to safety in nature.

For more information and current warnings, visit the website German Weather Service and des Garmisch-Partenkirchen District Office.