Federal police in anti-forest fire operations: helicopters fight the flames!

Federal police in anti-forest fire operations: helicopters fight the flames!

In the fight against the devastating forest and vegetation fires in Germany, the Federal Police is increasingly relying on its helicopter fleet. On July 5, 2025, the flying group was once again deployed in Saxony and Thuringia to fight the fires. According to the information from City report The Federal Police helicopters flew a total of 100 approaches to Gohrischheide and dropped an impressive 180,000 liters of fire-fighting water. In Gösselsdorf, where the situation was also tense, 55 approaches were carried out, releasing around 99,000 liters of water into the air.

Federal police support during forest fires has increased since July 1, 2025 and now includes operations in Brandenburg (including in Treuenbrietzen and Jüterbog), Saxony and Thuringia. To date there have been a total of 371 approaches with a water drop of around 667,800 liters. These supporting measures may be costly, but they are necessary because the situation is further complicated by leftover ammunition in the ground, which makes direct ground intervention difficult for the fire brigade.

Technical support and organizational structure

The Federal Police operates one of the largest police air service organizations in the world. With an impressive fleet of 94 helicopters, it is the second largest civil aircraft operator in Germany, behind only Lufthansa. These helicopters are not only used to fight forest fires, but also support border, railway and maritime surveillance as well as other disaster relief efforts.

The types of helicopters used include the “Super Puma”, which is equipped with “Bambi Buckets” – an external water container that makes air support during operations much easier. In an example from July 3, 2025, 42 approaches were carried out and a good 75,600 liters of extinguishing water were dropped when fighting a fire in the former military training area near Jüterbog, reported Süderelbe24.

Investments for the future

In the wake of the ongoing challenges, the Federal Police is planning to invest around 1.5 billion euros in new helicopters. This is a response to the increasing demands on forest firefighting, which have increased significantly in recent years. This investment could improve the operational capability of the Federal Police in the long term and address the challenges of dealing with natural disasters, as described by Mirror shown.

The current conditions pose enormous challenges for both the emergency services and the affected regions. The combination of technical support and investment in modern resources could be crucial to protecting people in affected areas and protecting nature from further damage.