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Major fire in Thuringia: disaster and evacuations are imminent!
A disaster in Germany: A forest fire is spreading uncontrollably, while districts in Thuringia and Bavaria warn.
Major fire in Thuringia: disaster and evacuations are imminent!
A huge forest fire caused a stir in the Gösseldorf district today. The disaster was declared in the afternoon when the fire spread unnoticed in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district and eventually got out of control. This is the largest forest fire in Thuringia since 1993, which further increases the authorities' concerns. Over 150 firefighters are on duty, but a further 100 helpers have also been called in to provide support. A firefighting helicopter and the technical relief agency are now also on site to provide support. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and the investigation can only begin after the extinguishing work has been completed, as can be seen from MDR.
Of particular concern is the development of smoke gases that spread from the affected area towards the southeast. Warnings were therefore issued in several districts both in Thuringia, particularly Sonneberg and Saale-Orla-Kreis, and in Bavaria, including Kronach, Kulmbach and Hof. The population is asked to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation and air conditioning. In Kronach, health impairments cannot be ruled out, while in Hof this is considered impossible, according to the report by Merkur.
The risk of forest fires in Germany is increasing
The risk of forest fires has increased significantly due to the ongoing heat wave throughout Germany and Europe. The situation is particularly tense in Bavaria and Thuringia. Another hot tip comes from the town of Heidehäuser, where around 100 people, including around 45 residents, had to be evacuated due to an intense forest fire. The fire there has actually increased in size more than tenfold, with around 600 hectares now affected. In Thuringia, the emergency services were hindered by technical difficulties with a firefighting helicopter. A replacement fire bag is expected on Friday to continue the firefighting work, while air support from the Federal Police was rejected. [MDR].
Like that Federal Environment Agency reported, there were a total of 1,059 forest fires in 2023, which represents a decrease compared to the previous year, but the number of areas affected is increasing. The regions of Brandenburg and Saxony are particularly badly affected, where over half of the burned area in Germany is recorded. The forest fire season is likely to last longer in the coming years due to climate changes, requiring increased vigilance.
Last but not least, politicians are calling for appropriate measures: Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier is calling for better fire-fighting options, such as stationing a joint civil defense helicopter. The CDU parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament has even suggested examining the stationing of fire-fighting helicopters at Erfurt-Weimar Airport. Rumors are circulating about impending federal financial support for civil defense, indicating the urgency of this matter.