Harz fights against forest fires: Second firefighting plane on the way!

Harz fights against forest fires: Second firefighting plane on the way!

There's a lot going on in the Harz district right now! The district has been using its own firefighting aircraft to fight forest fires since 2023. How MDR According to reports, district fire chief Kai-Uwe Lohse is planning to apply for a second firefighting aircraft for short-term operations. The existing aircraft, which bears the name “Hexe1”, is enjoying increasing national interest, as District Administrator Thomas Balcerowski (CDU) emphasizes.

The interest even leads to a one-year cooperation with the district of Göttingen in Lower Saxony, and another contract with the Thuringian district of Nordhausen is already being planned. If necessary, the firefighting aircraft can be activated not only in the Harz district, but also beyond. To ensure rapid reloading, temporary landing areas will be set up.

Financing and operations

But how much does such a flying firefighting aid cost? The use of the fire-fighting aircraft costs around 3,400 euros net per hour. However, District Administrator Balcerowski has ruled out permanently stationing a second firefighting aircraft for financial reasons. His district took action in 2022 after a major fire on the Brocken caused a stir and commissioned a Polish company to provide the fire-fighting aircraft.

The contract with the provider “Mieleckie Zakłady Lotnicze” expires in March 2025. From April 1, 2025, the district administrator can commission a service provider to operate the small firefighting aircraft. The annual costs for the future four-year contract amount to around 150,000 euros and include an extension option for one year.

Climate change and forest fire protection

The need for such measures is becoming increasingly urgent. How Kreis-Harz.de As explained, the fire departments in the Harz district have been national pioneers in fighting forest fires from the air for two years. In the past, specifically in the 2023 forest fire season, the firefighting aircraft was used for six missions, including in Brandenburg.

More and more forest fires can be observed in spring, which is strongly linked to increasing temperatures and the associated climate changes. Experts warn that the soil is too dry - which promotes the development of fires Authorities mirror described in detail.

The importance of firefighting aircraft cannot be overestimated. They enable quick and unbureaucratic operations, which is a real advantage in times of increasing risk of forest fires. But while Lower Saxony relies on helicopters that are more flexible in terms of landing sites and water intake, the Harz district is still making progress in air rescue with its Dromader PZL M18 B.

What remains are the challenges and the commitment of local authorities to effective fire protection. The Harz district is definitely doing good business by investing in aviation in order to be well positioned in the fight against forest fires.