Forest fire endangers Harz: 300 firefighters on permanent duty!

Forest fire endangers Harz: 300 firefighters on permanent duty!

On Sunday evening, a forest fire broke out in the Harz Mountains, more precisely near the Grane Dam near Goslar in Lower Saxony. Since then, over 300 emergency services have been fighting the flames relentlessly. What doesn't make things any easier are the strong wind gusts of up to 65 km/h that fueled the fire and accelerated its spread. The fire area increased overnight from three to eight hectares, making extinguishing work considerably more difficult. However, fire department spokesman Michael Langlotz gives hope: The fire could probably be under control on Monday, even though two larger fires and numerous smaller fires are still ongoing.

Again NDR reported, the emergency services have so far tried to contain the further spread of the fire. Among other things, two helicopters and a fire-fighting plane, affectionately known as the “Witch”, are used. However, these are in a constant holding pattern as the unfavorable wind conditions make regular aerial operations almost impossible.

Obstacles and risks

A particularly worrying problem is onlookers getting in the way of emergency services. In their eagerness to experience what is happening up close, some people block the paths or sometimes even follow the fire engines into the forest. This not only represents a distraction, but also entails significant risks - there is a risk of toxic fumes and extreme heat. Furthermore, the “Nina” warning app was used to restrict access to the affected forest area.

However, there is no immediate danger for residents as there are no houses near the source of the fire. The fire department has its priorities clear: fight the fire before nightfall. The situation is confusing, and the hillside location and poor accessibility make fire service work even more difficult.

Forest fires in Germany

The relevance of the issue of forest fires is highlighted by our country's statistics. According to that Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which has been compiling data on forest fires in Germany since the 1970s, the protection and preservation of forests is an important concern, especially in densely populated regions. In view of the fact that more calamities such as forest fires are to be expected in the future, the focus is on minimizing their number and area size.

It has recently been established that effective preparation and rapid response are the key factors in bringing forest fires under control early and preventing further damage. The current events in the Harz are an urgent appeal to society and those responsible to further promote high-quality strategies for forest fire prevention and to take development measures.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the emergency services will quickly bring the fire under control and that the weather will calm down soon - then the “witch” can be used reliably again.