Forest fire near Wendelstein: 8,000 square meters in flames, evacuations have already started!

Forest fire near Wendelstein: 8,000 square meters in flames, evacuations have already started!

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, a massive forest fire broke out near Wendelstein in the Roth district, which could create a dramatic situation in a short time. The fire started shortly after 1 p.m. on Fischleinsberg and spread rapidly, encouraged by the persistent heat, dryness and a strong, gusty wind. Loud nn.de An adjacent residential complex had to be evacuated, with 60 people having to temporarily leave their homes.

The fire department was deployed on a large scale with over 400 emergency services and numerous vehicles to fight the flames. The warning app NINA was activated early on, informing the population about the danger and calling on them to avoid the area. The area affected by the fire increased from initially around 1,000 to around 8,000 square meters. The smoke could be clearly felt as far away as the nearby towns of Feucht and Altenfurt, which made the situation even more difficult nordbayern.de reported.

Evacuation and support

Theoretically, the source of the fire was between the Kleinschwarzenloher Forest and Röthenbach near St. Wolfgang, i.e. in a region that was difficult to access. The impassable terrain prevented heavy equipment from reaching the source of the fire, so the emergency services had to rely on a variety of support. A police firefighting helicopter was deployed with a 24,000 liter drop bag to support the firefighting efforts.

The flames were finally brought under control around 5:30 p.m. and the dangerous situation was averted: the fire department managed to stop the fire 100 meters from a senior citizens' residence. The Rangauhalle in Kleinschwarzenlohe was prepared as an emergency shelter for the evacuees. But worries continued well into the night as the last emergency services monitored the situation.

Damage and health risks

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and at least one person required hospital treatment. The cause of the fire is currently unclear and is being investigated by the responsible authorities. This is not the first time the region has been affected by such an incident, as the risk of forest fires increases as hot and dry periods increase due to climate change. According to information from Statista Forest fires are not only a danger to nature, but also to people's health, as they release fine dust and other pollutants.

The situation in Germany shows that the risk of forest fires should not be underestimated here either. A high risk of forest fires is still expected in the coming days, which is why the population is warned to be careful.