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Forest fire near Thale: 150 firefighters on a major mission!
Forest fire in the Bodetal near Thale. 150 firefighters on duty. Passers-by are advised to avoid the area.
Forest fire near Thale: 150 firefighters on a major mission!
An extensive forest fire broke out on Tuesday in the picturesque Bodetal, in the Harz Mountains. Again MDR reported that the situation at Tannenkopf southeast of Thale is taking on worrying proportions. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene, but extinguishing the fire was extremely challenging due to the steep terrain.
The deployment of around 150 firefighters from the area shows how serious the situation is. In order to fight the flames effectively, a fire-fighting aircraft from the Harz district is also being used. Meanwhile, the integrated control center informs about heavy smoke and recommends passers-by to avoid the affected area. The warning app Nina has also issued corresponding information to warn the population how the time reported.
Measures and mobilization of emergency services
The fire department has already closed the road between Thale and Friedrichsbrunn to ensure unhindered access for emergency services. The firefighting aircraft in Hasselfelde is currently being refueled with water to combat the flames. “The fire extends to the borders, details about the exact size of the fire are still unclear,” said a spokesman for the integrated control center. The region, which is also characterized by drought and heat, could prove to be particularly vulnerable to such fires in the coming weeks.
Background and prevention
Forest fires are an increasingly serious problem, not only in Germany but worldwide. According to Statista, over 1,200 hectares of forest area in Germany were affected in 2023, while the highest value in the last 30 years was recorded in 2022 at over 3,000 hectares. Increasing dry and hot periods caused by climate change are promoting these devastating fires. In recent years, southern European countries, the USA and the Amazon region have particularly suffered from the consequences. In Germany, arson and negligence are the most common causes, and only 27 of the fires in 2023 had natural causes, such as Statista explained.
What happens next and how the emergency services can bring the situation under control remains to be seen. The region must not relax its efforts to prevent such an incident in the future. But right now the message is: Citizens should follow the information from the authorities and avoid the area where the fire occurred.