Heat wave in Germany: Fire brigade fights against devastating forest fires!

Heat wave in Germany: Fire brigade fights against devastating forest fires!

The heat wave, which Germany currently captures, ensures worrying developments in nature. The fire brigade fights under difficult conditions against the devastating forest fires, which have broken out in the past few days. [SPIEGEL] reports that the drought and high summer temperatures represent a real challenge for the emergency services.

The situation is dramatic: While in 2023 in Germany “only” over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by forest fires, the number in 2022 with more than 3,000 hectares was the highest value in the past 30 years. Especially in the federal states of Brandenburg and Lower Saxony, outbreaks often occur, which are mostly triggered by arson or negligent behavior. Around half of these fires have unknown causes. [Statista] emphasizes that only 27 of these fires were of natural origin in 2023.

heat wave and its consequences

The current heat wave that overrun Germany contributes to the endangerment of nature and habitats. Forest fires can spread at impressive speed and thus not only cause space losses, but also massive financial damage. [Statista] indicates that the health effects of the fine dust released should not be underestimated. Here climate change is not just a catchphrase, but a set of real threats that burden the ecosystem.

The fire brigade reports on "extremely difficult conditions". Heat and wind favor the fire spread, which intensifies the extinguishing work and requires special planning. It is a race against time while the emergency services fight for every hectare.

forest fires worldwide

forest fires are not just a German problem, because the situation has accepted alarming proportions in many parts of the world. In the Brazilian rainforest, for example, almost 37,000 forest fires were added in the first half of 2023, and California experienced in 2020 one of the worst years with enormous area losses. [Statista] documents the global damage: Between 2001 and 2023, a total of 138 million hectares of trees were destroyed by fires.

climate change is a decisive factor here. The increase in dry and heat periods, as you can see in Germany, significantly increase the risk of forest fires. This leads to the fact that the figures will continue to increase in the future if not consistent measures are taken.

The situation not only demands a lot from the emergency services, but also from society as a whole. Awareness and prevention are the be -all and end -all in the fight against the destructive power of the flames.

For more information on the current developments and operations of the fire brigade in Germany, we recommend a look at the detailed reports from [Spiegel].