Forest fire in the Harz: Fire brigade fights flames near Goslar!

Forest fire in the Harz: Fire brigade fights flames near Goslar!

There was a huge forest fire in the Harz near Goslar on Sunday evening, which is still causing excitement today. The flames reached heights of up to 20 meters and required massive intervention by the local fire department. Over 300 firefighters were on site to fight the flames, while emergency crews were reduced overnight from Sunday to Monday due to difficult conditions caused by steep slopes and large areas. Now, on Tuesday morning, the worst times appear to be behind us, as the city of Goslar reported that the fire was unlikely to spread further. With increasing humidity and cooler temperatures, the weather conditions are significantly more favorable for extinguishing work Picture reported.

What was particularly pleasing for the emergency services was that the forest fire was reported to be under control on Tuesday afternoon. The flames are no longer visible, the fire now smolders in the ground. Two helicopters are supporting the firefighting work, but they are not currently flying to make the work of the ground forces easier. The fire is extinguished by firefighters who extinguish embers with water from special vehicles. Since the fire began on Sunday at 6 p.m., several hectares of forest have already fallen victim to the fire - preliminary estimates are around seven hectares, which is equivalent to around ten football fields.

Challenges and security measures

Despite progress, challenges remain. A warning message from the “Nina” app was issued warning against entering the forest areas of Königsberg, Nordberg and Steinberg, as smoke gases and water discharge could endanger life. The area between Granetalsperre and Goslar is largely closed in order to guarantee the safety of the population. Concerned residents were interested, but some onlookers hindered the fire brigade by blocking paths and sometimes following the emergency services into the forest.

The cause of the fire is still unclear, but such incidents are not the norm in Germany, but unfortunately not rare either. Forest fires have been increasing in recent years due to climate change and in 2023 over 1,200 hectares of land in Germany were destroyed by fires. The most common causes are arson and negligence - but around half of the fires remain unexplained. Most forest fires were recorded in Brandenburg and Lower Saxony, which shows that the problem should also be taken seriously at a regional level. Figures and developments regarding forest fires show how urgent the issue is. Statista highlights that the increase in dry and hot periods will continue in Germany in the future.

It remains to be seen whether the fire brigade in the Harz can finally calm the situation down. According to a fire brigade spokesman, it will probably take several days before the “fire out” can finally be reported. The extinguishing work will continue until the end of the week and the emergency services will do everything they can to prevent the fire from re-igniting. Interested citizens are asked to keep their eyes open and adhere to the safety measures put in place.