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Red alert: Highest risk of forest fires in Wittenberg and the surrounding area!
Danger of forest fires in Anhalt-Bitterfeld: Level 4 remains. High risks in Saxony-Anhalt; important information for walkers.
Red alert: Highest risk of forest fires in Wittenberg and the surrounding area!
The Wittenberg region is currently at the highest alert level: Forest fire danger level 5 has been in effect in the Wittenberg district since last Friday. This severity is no joke and means that the population has to be particularly careful when walking in the forest. From now on it is no longer allowed to leave the main paths, which represents a significant restriction for many nature lovers. A smoking ban was also imposed, which came into force from danger level 2.
But that's not all! In just a few days, specifically from Wednesday, the residents of the Mansfeld-Südharz district and the Harz district will also have to prepare for the same level of danger, as MDR reports. The assessment of the risk of forest fires is the result of many years of statistical surveys and takes into account factors such as fire area, frequency and the readiness of the forest structures to ignite and burn.
The areas at risk
Tourist landscapes such as the Dübener Heide, the Annaburger Heide and parts of the Fläming are particularly affected. The risk of forest fires is high in these regions; Nature is currently showing its dry and flammable side. At the same time, there is no increased risk of forest fires in neighboring areas in Brandenburg, which represents a certain compensation for the affected regions.
What is the situation in the surrounding districts? Warning level 4 currently applies in Jerichower Land, the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district and the city of Dessau-Roßlau, while most other districts are at level 3. Only in the Altmark district of Salzwedel and the district of Stendal is the risk of forest fires low at levels 2 and 1 - good news for the population there.
Background and causes of the danger levels
The classification of forest fire danger classes is based on various factors. In principle, Saxony-Anhalt has the highest risk of forest fires in the north and east. There are of course reasons for this: very low annual rainfall, water-permeable sandy soils and widespread pine forests that are ready to ignite promote the development of fires. The State Center for Forestry explains that there are a total of three classes for this - from A for very high forest fire risk to B for medium to C for a low risk of forest fires.
Special attention is also paid to the transport offerings in the region. The Harz narrow-gauge railway has responded to the increased risk of forest fires and is using diesel trains on some routes. This ensures that the replacement timetable between “Drei Annen Hohne” and the Brocken works with a total of seven pairs of journeys instead of eight pairs of steam train journeys. Safety precautions are the be-all and end-all.
The current situation calls for a high degree of caution and understanding from the people in the region. It is all the more important that everyone follows the rules and thus helps to protect the forests and nature! In the summer temperatures, everyone should exercise extra caution.