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Forest fire at Möhnesee: Fire brigade fights the flames!
Around 300 firefighters are fighting a forest fire at Möhnesee. The situation remains tense while firefighting efforts continue.
Forest fire at Möhnesee: Fire brigade fights the flames!
There is currently a great sense of alarm in the region around Lake Möhne as a forest fire in the Arnsberg Forest has spread to more than 30,000 square meters. Around 300 firefighters are at the scene to fight the flames. The emergency services managed to stop the fire from spreading late in the evening, but the extinguishing work is expected to take the entire night, reports stern.de.
The fire started in a damaged forest area, a so-called calamity area. There is a lot of dead wood stored here, which only fuels the flames. In addition to the fire brigade from surrounding communities, the drone group from the Soest district and a police helicopter were also deployed. The Möhnesee tower and the town of Neuhaus are among the areas particularly affected.
Challenges for the emergency services
Onlookers hinder the busy work of the emergency services, which causes additional problems. The police have therefore closed a road to give the firefighters the space they need and to guarantee quick access routes. The situation is strongly reminiscent of a similar incident in September 2022, when the fire department also had to respond to a forest fire near Möhnesee that covered an area of around 2,000 square meters. At that time, flames up to three meters high could be seen and the extinguishing work could only be carried out with great effort and the cooperation of numerous helpers, such as Soester Anzeiger reported.
The current wildfire highlights the significant threats posed by increasingly dry and hot periods caused by climate change. New forest fires are regularly registered in Germany, with the area burned down increasing sharply in recent years. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by fire, while 2022 reached over 3,000 hectares, the highest in the last 30 years, according to the report Statista.
A call for vigilance
The Möhnesee fire department has already warned the population to avoid the Arnsberg forest around the Möhnesee tower. This prevention is important, not only to support the emergency services, but also to ensure the personal protection of citizens. Looking ahead to the coming days, it remains to be seen whether natural causes or human error are behind the current fire. The police have started an investigation into the cause of the fire and are asking witnesses to come forward.
With a good hand and a lot of effort, the firefighters hope to get the situation under control. The focus is on the coming hours and on whether the flames can be brought under control quickly. It remains to be hoped that everyone involved can receive positive news soon.