Alarm in Hanau: danger of forest fires at its highest!

Alarm in Hanau: danger of forest fires at its highest!

The persistent heat has recently drastically increased the risk of forest fires in Germany, as [hessenschau.de](https://www.hessenschau.de/panorama/wärme-ticker-fuer-hessen-heissester-tag-der-woche-erwartet, Hitzeticker-august-sommer-100.html) reports. The fire department in Hanau warns of a high risk of forest fires, while the German Weather Service has declared level 4 out of 5 for some regions. Due to this increased danger, an increased police presence in the forests is ensured in this country in order to prevent potential causes of fire.

It is especially important to be vigilant in Hanau. Walkers will be asked about risky behavior by police patrols, while new signs in sensitive areas will inform about the ban on smoking, barbecues and open fires. City councilor Isabelle Hemsley highlights that the region's forests are particularly at risk. There were already major forest fires in Hanau in the spring and May of this year, which makes the situation even more precarious.

Understanding Wildfire Danger Index

To assess the risk of forest fires, an index is used that is divided into five levels:

• 1: sehr geringe Gefahr
• 2: geringe Gefahr
• 3: mittlere Gefahr
• 4: hohe Gefahr
• 5: sehr hohe Gefahr

In Hesse, for example, the values ​​for different stations are alarming - although many are different, the tendency towards danger is still increasing. This situation is not limited to Hesse, but extends throughout Germany. As wetterfähren.de explains, the dangers are particularly pronounced in densely forested regions with conifers such as spruce and pine.

Current developments nationwide

In Saxony, a serious forest fire is currently being fought in Gohrischheide, in which around 200 firefighters are involved. The increase in forest fires in Germany is alarming: in 2022, Germany experienced the highest number of fires in 30 years, with 2,397 recorded incidents. The situation will remain tense in 2023 with 1,059 fires, which is close to the long-term average. This development shows how burningly hot the topic of “forest fire danger” is, as zdf.de describes.

The causes lie not only in the climatic conditions, but also in human error. Arson, discarded cigarettes and lighting open fires are among the most common triggers. Preventive measures that go beyond pure education are therefore urgently needed, such as the establishment of protective strips and fire barriers in endangered areas.

The danger of forest fires should give us all pause. It is up to us to be mindful and act preventatively before the beautiful forests that adorn our country go up in flames.