Ostalb in view: risk of forest fire despite a low level of risk!

Ostalb in view: risk of forest fire despite a low level of risk!

The forest fire risk on the Ostalb is currently classified as low, but this does not exclude the risk of forest fires. According to Schwäbische Post informed Forst-Department Jens-Olaf Weiher about the different forest fire hazard levels and the associated measures. Nevertheless, a forest fire in Bopfingen-Baldern occurred on April 7, 2025, so that the police are currently determining.

March 2025 was a record month because the temperatures in Germany have reached the highest since the start of the records. In Schwäbisch Gmünd, only a precipitation of 200 mm has been measured since the beginning of the year, with only 50 mm measured in March - both values ​​are below the long -term means. This development could have long -term effects on forest management in the region, since one is preparing for an increasingly warmer and drier climate that could increase the risk of forest fire.

preventive measures

In order to prevent forest fires in the future, various measures are planned. This includes integrated forest and fire protection management, which also includes forestry preventive strategies. Among other things, the long -term conversion of the forest to more deciduous forest is sought because it is less fire at risk. Furthermore, nationwide projects for the training of fire and forestry tandems and the establishment of a forest fire management system are running, which is intended to optimize the efficiency in combating such fires.

The current rules of conduct in the Ostalb forests particularly emphasize the dangers through open fire. A ban on smoking in the forest applies from March 1 to October 31 and open fire must not be sparked in more than 100 meters to the forest. In the case of a forest fire danger level of 4, the use of fireplaces is prohibited. In addition, throwing away is strictly prohibited.

climate change and its consequences

climate change has far -reaching consequences for the risk of forest fires, warn different institutions and reports. In a report by forest knowledge it is determined that all scenarios for global warming indicate a temperature increase that could increase the frequency of weather extremes, including heat waves and extreme depressions. These changes contribute to the increase in forest fires, a concern that is shared by most experts.

over 90 percent of the forest fires are of human origin, as the WDR interview shows. It is emphasized that the main cause is often man itself, although dry thunderstorms and lightning -related fires increase. Forest visitors should therefore be particularly mindful and do not ignite open fire. In the case of fire observations, it is strongly recommended to contact emergency number 112 immediately and to give an exact location description.