Harz gets second extinguishing machine - cooperation with Göttingen!

Harz gets second extinguishing machine - cooperation with Göttingen!

In the Harz district, a separate fire aircraft has been used since 2023 to combat forest fires. The aircraft, which is called "Hexe1", was purchased after a devastating fire on the chunk in 2022 and has attracted a lot of attention since then. District Administrator Thomas Balcerowski from the CDU reports on increasing national interest in this innovative solution to fight fire, which is unparalleled in Germany. The district of Harz is the only one that uses fire aircraft in combination with soil forces, which makes it unique in the fire fighting MDR.

In order to ensure an even faster reaction, district fire chief Kai-Uwe Lohse applied for the purchase of a second extinguishing aircraft. This step could be particularly helpful to effectively master short -term missions. However, Balcerowski rejects the permanent stationing of another fire -fighting aircraft for financial reasons, although a one -year cooperation with the district of Göttingen in Lower Saxony has already been signed. There is also a collaboration with the Thuringian district of Nordhausen on the agenda.

Financing and operation of the extinguishing aircraft

The costs for the use of the fire -fighting aircraft are around 3,400 euros net per hour, a factor that makes the discussion about permanent stationing. It is interesting that from April 1, 2025, another extinguishing aircraft in Ballenstedt, Saxony-Anhalt, will be available. This aircraft complements the already established emergency services and is part of a contract with a Polish provider that runs until 2028. Unfortunately, however, one also has to state that Lower Saxony no longer has its fire -fighting aircraft after the contract was not extended for two aircraft in Braunschweig, such as how [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/niederricht/niedersachsen/braunschweig_harz_goettingen/loeschfluke-fuer-harz-Harz-harz-Jedoch-nicht-niedersachsenin-niedersachsen, lovers106.html) reports.

While Lower Saxony relies on helicopters that are considered more suitable and more versatile, the fire -fighting aircraft in the Harz are a welcome resource for European disaster protection. This not only serves the Harz district, but can also be made available to other places outside the Harzkreis if necessary. Provisional landing sites are set up to enable the machines to be quickly circulated.

EU initiatives and international cooperation

Another exciting aspect is the financial support of the EU. At the Braunschweig-Wolfsburg Airport, two Air Tractor AT 802/A fire aircraft are currently stationed, which are part of the ResceU fleet. These were mainly financed with EU funds and are available for missions by October 30, 2025. Germany can use these planes as long as they are not used for European operations. The use of these aircraft can be of great importance for the European Member States, especially in view of the challenges that show the forest fires in the region, as the information from EU show.

While nature has suffered greatly from various fires in recent years, the EU and the affected states have actively try to work preventively with early warning systems and international cooperation. For example, the EU Copernicus satellite mapping service was set up, which provides detailed information from space and supports efficient monitoring of forest fires.