Fireworks at the shooting festival in Goslar canceled due to drought!

Fireworks at the shooting festival in Goslar canceled due to drought!

The fireworks display planned for the Schützenfest will not take place in Goslar on Friday evening, July 4, 2025. The city administration made this decision due to the ongoing drought and the associated high risk of fire. Press spokeswoman Daniela Siegl explained that the cancellation was made in close coordination with the city fire chief and that the decision was necessary to minimize potential risks. The high-altitude fireworks display, which had already been approved in April, was finally banned on Thursday afternoon. This measure initially only applies to Friday, reports Goslar newspaper.

The risk of fire is currently particularly high in Germany. The current weather with extreme drought and the weather is increasingly favoring forest fires. According to information from ZDF today The forest fire numbers in Germany are alarming. While 548 forest fires were registered in 2021, the number jumped to 2,397 in 2022, the highest number in 30 years. There have been 1,059 forest fires so far this year, which has been reduced by half compared to 2022, but the value remains close to the multi-year average.

Fire hazard in focus

The forest fire season in Germany extends from March to October, although in recent years the risk has increasingly moved into the summer months. Regions particularly at risk are dense coniferous forests such as spruce and pine in Bavaria, as well as forests on sandy soils in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The risk of wildfires is expected to increase in the coming decades due to climate change and rising temperatures, such as this Federal Environment Agency warns.

The causes of forest fires are varied - in addition to natural triggers such as lightning strikes, human error and carelessness are the main causes. According to the latest statistics, over half of forest fires were caused by humans. Therefore, preventative measures such as promoting mixed forests and creating forest fire barriers are crucial.

Regional fires and prevention

In order to contain the dangers, numerous firefighters are deployed in active crisis areas, such as currently in Gohrischheide, Saxony, where around 200 emergency services are working. Just last week, firefighters fought several wildfires in Goslar, including a forest fire on Steinberg that lasted several days and was even fought with firefighting aircraft. These incidents underscore the urgency with which communities like those in Goslar must make decisions about public events and fireworks.

The weather conditions and the associated risks make it clear: the topic of forest fire prevention must be on the agenda around the clock. Citizens are called upon to be vigilant and take care of nature. In this way, not only our own well-being, but also that of the environment can be secured in the long term.