Hears in action: Prignitz fire brigade fights against forest fire in Saxony

Hears in action: Prignitz fire brigade fights against forest fire in Saxony

Gohrischheide, Sachsen, Deutschland - The alarming forest fires in Gohrischheide, Saxony, require quick and brave use. Over 73 firefighters from the Prignitz in Brandenburg set off on Tuesday, July 8th, to support the local emergency services. This approximately 300 kilometer trip, which lasts six hours, became necessary after the Saxon Ministry of the Interior asked for help. Even if the Prignitzer originally had other plans, they now face the dangers and challenges that the fire brings with it, like

Christian Reisinger, the district fire chief of Prignitz, expects a long and exhausting commitment. The situation is complicated: in the fire area there is old ammunition in the ground, which makes it significantly more difficult to extinguish the extinguishing work. In order to ensure the safety of the emergency services, the extinguishing work may only be carried out from the point of view. Around 800 hectares are to be looked after in this dangerous corso. The Prignitzer must intervene in Heidehäuser, a small settlement, where the fire has raged since July 1st.

The Dresden fire brigade has been on site since July 2 and is working intensively on combating the fire. It uses tank fire vehicles and extinguishing vehicles in various sections of the site. The management of the extinguishing work is carried out in the layer system with twelve-hour services in order to relieve the emergency services. A total of around 665 emergency services, including volunteer fire departments and the Bundeswehr, work in this critical area of application. MDR reports that the district administrator of the district of Meißen is pursuing the fire in order to burn the fire to the upcoming deletion work easier.

The numbers are terrifying: around 2,100 hectares of area are already affected, which is well above average in Germany alone. The increase in such fire areas is an alarm signal, and the causes often lie in the combination of dryness and heat, favored by climate change, as Statista . The development of forest fires in Germany is worrying; 2022 was the worst year in 30 years when over 3,000 hectares went into flames.

criticism of the protective equipment

In the middle of these unprecedented challenges, there is also strong political response. The free voters in Saxony criticize cuts for the fire brigade in the state budget and warn of the consequences for public security. 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 and aid measures, it makes it clear that a well-equipped fire brigade is essential.

The commitment of the Prignitz firefighters is a shining example of team spirit and helpfulness. Despite the challenges and dangers that the forest fires bring with it, the community stands together to contain and extinguish the fire. Even if the situation remains serious for everyone involved, the hope remains that their efforts will soon bear fruit.