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The all-clear in the Hochtaunus district: forest fire on the Altkönig under control!
All-clear for the forest fire in Hochtaunuskreis on July 19, 2025: Fire brigade on duty, cause of fire unclear, smoke visible.
The all-clear in the Hochtaunus district: forest fire on the Altkönig under control!
On July 19, 2025, a forest fire in the Hochtaunus district caused excitement and intensive operations by fire departments and rescue workers. The Hochtaunuskreis Integrated Control Center gave the all-clear at 11:47 a.m. The previous situation was classified as slightly dangerous after smoke was first reported in the Altkönig area. This information was distributed by news.de.
On Monday afternoon, the rescue control center received an alarm about a fire in the difficult-to-access forest area between Fuchstanz and Altkönig. While firefighters tried to fight the flames in a steep area, the fire quickly spread to an area of two to three hectares. A large column of smoke was visible from afar, which attracted the attention of many citizens. Around 400 people from the fire department, police and other aid organizations were involved in the operation [hochtaunuskreis.de](https://www.hochtaunuskreis.de/Themenfelder/Verkehr-Mobilit%C3%A4t/Verkehr/KFZ-Zulassensbeh%C3%B6rde/Aktuell e-Information-%C3%96opening times/Waldbrand-am-Altk%C3%B6nig.php?object=tx,3419.5.1&ModID=7&FID=3419.20575.1&NavID=3419.132&La=1) reported.
Emergency services and difficult conditions
The extinguishing work was challenging due to the difficult topographical location and the warm temperatures. The team was supported by a helicopter, which flew in 800 liters of extinguishing water to monitor and fight the fire. The Technical Relief Agency and the German Red Cross were also in action. The parking lot at Große Kurve was used as a collection area, while Kanonenstrasse was closed to car traffic so as not to hinder the emergency services. Despite all efforts, two firefighters were injured during the operation.
The cause of the fire is still unclear, but intentional ignition has not been ruled out. District Administrator Ulrich Krebs did not miss the opportunity to get an idea of the situation on site and took part in a briefing. Firefighting efforts were scheduled to continue until around 10 p.m., followed by monitoring of the fire site the next day.
A growing threat
Forest fires also pose an increasing danger in Germany. Climate change favors the occurrence of such fires, as data from Statista confirm. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by forest fires in Germany, while in 2022, over 3,000 hectares, the highest value in the last 30 years was recorded. The most common causes are arson and negligence, with many fires having unknown causes.
Recently, there have also been massive forest fires in neighboring countries such as France and Spain, which destroyed large areas. This highlights the dangers associated with rising temperatures. Even though Germany fortunately recorded a lower number of forest fires in 2023, awareness of the problem remains an important issue for the future given the global situation.