Forest fire near Goslar: Wind makes extinguishing work dramatically more difficult!

Forest fire near Goslar: Wind makes extinguishing work dramatically more difficult!

The region around Goslar is currently in turmoil due to an extensive forest fire. The fire, which has been active above the Grane Dam since June 22, 2025, calls on more than 300 emergency services, including firefighters, air support and special vehicles. The Goslar fire department was alerted on Sunday evening when the flames quickly became a worrying problem. Firefighting aircraft such as the “Hexe 1” are also used to monitor the fire, supporting the firefighting from the air. However, the extinguishing work is made considerably more difficult by strong winds and storm-like gusts, reports say RegionalHeut.de.

Two larger fires and several smaller spot fires are currently active in the forest. The targeted fight against the fire has been able to contain the area, which so far covers around eight hectares, but the fire brigade remains cautious because of the danger of falling trees and the development of smoke and heat. “We are aiming to get the fire under control before nightfall,” says city fire chief Christian Hellmeier. Safety is the top priority: The city of Goslar has asked the population to avoid the affected area and has only opened access roads such as the Steinberg-Alm to emergency services.

Challenges caused by weather conditions

The firefighting work is not only hampered by the wind, but also by the current weather conditions. Loud NDR The use of fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters to obtain water is specifically influenced by wind conditions. Richard Becker from the German Weather Service has described the situation in the northern Harz as tense, with storm warnings predicting winds of up to 95 km/h. This makes the missions particularly dangerous. However, a positive turnaround could come from the expected rain, which could potentially help contain the fire.

The causes of the fire are not yet fully understood, but experts warn Statista show that the increasing dry and hot periods caused by climate change are promoting the development of forest fires. In recent years, Germany has been repeatedly affected by major fires. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares of land in Germany have already been destroyed by fire, with Brandenburg and Lower Saxony being among the most affected regions.

This current challenge makes it clear that wildfires not only pose a threat to the environment, but also test the safety of people in the region. The emergency services are working around the clock to manage the situation and hope that the weather situation will improve soon.