Heroes in action: Prignitz fire department fights against forest fire in Saxony

Heroes in action: Prignitz fire department fights against forest fire in Saxony

The alarming forest fires in Gohrischheide, Saxony, require quick and courageous action. Over 73 firefighters from Prignitz in Brandenburg set out on the night of Tuesday, July 8th to support the local emergency services. This approximately 300-kilometer journey, which takes an estimated six hours, became necessary after the Saxon Interior Ministry asked for help. Even if the people of Prignitz originally had other plans, they are now facing the dangers and challenges that the fire brings with it maz online reported.

Christian Reisinger, the Prignitz district fire chief, expects a long and strenuous operation. The situation is complicated: There is old ammunition in the ground in the fire area, which makes extinguishing work considerably more difficult. In order to ensure the safety of the emergency services, extinguishing work may only be carried out from designated routes. Around 800 hectares have to be looked after in this dangerous corso. The people of Prignitz have to intervene in Heidehäuser, a small settlement where the fire has been raging since July 1st.

Complex extinguishing work with many actors

The Dresden fire department has been on site since July 2nd and is working intensively to fight the fire. It deploys fire engines and fire engines in various sections of the scene. The extinguishing work is managed in a shift system with twelve-hour shifts in order to relieve the burden on the emergency services. A total of around 665 emergency services, including volunteer fire departments and the Bundeswehr, are working in this critical operational area. MDR reports that the district administrator of the Meißen district is pursuing the strategy of letting the fire burn down in a controlled manner in order to make the extinguishing work that is still to come easier.

The numbers are frightening: around 2,100 hectares of land have already been affected, which is well above the annual average in Germany alone. The increase in such burnt areas is an alarm signal, and the causes often lie in the combination of drought and heat, favored by climate change Statista shows. The development of forest fires in Germany is worrying; 2022 was the worst year in 30 years as over 3,000 hectares went up in flames.

Criticism of protective equipment

Amid these unprecedented challenges, there is also strong political resonance. The Free Voters in Saxony criticize cuts for the fire department in the state budget and warn of the consequences for public safety. Matthias Binner, deputy state chairman of the Free Voters of Saxony, described these savings as a potential risk for the population. In view of the current fire service and relief measures, it is clear that a well-equipped fire department is essential.

The commitment of the Prignitz firefighters is a shining example of team spirit and willingness to help. Despite the challenges and dangers posed by wildfires, the community stands together to contain and extinguish the fire. Even though the situation remains serious for everyone involved, there is hope that their efforts will soon bear fruit.