The risk of forest fire sinks in Lower Saxony: Relaxation in sight!

The risk of forest fire sinks in Lower Saxony: Relaxation in sight!

On Monday, June 22, 2025, the risk of forest fire in Lower Saxony is expected to relax. As NDR reports, shows the forest fire-hafen-Hahn-Index of the German Weather Service (DWD) for a large number of Lower Saxony Danger level. Only in some regions, including Cuxhaven, Bassum and Bad Harzburg, remains the middle danger level 3 to Tuesday, before a reduction is expected to be expected.

The increasing thermometer on the weekend, which has climbed over 30 degrees, led to an increased risk of forest fires. The highest warning levels 4 and even 5 were registered in many regions. The head of the Knut Sierk forest fire center warns of the consequences of the drought that has been in Lower Saxony for months. The forest staff has tirelessly occupied since March, which is a record for the forest fire center in Lüneburg on the day of operation. In addition, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research is active by providing data on soil moisture that confirm: The upper floors have almost completely dried out and thus endanger the young seedlings.

smoking and open fire forbidden

In Lower Saxony, a strict ban on open fire in forests, bogs and pagans is valid until October 31, and smoking is also prohibited in these areas. This is a reaction to the increasing risk of forest fires, which is particularly favored by human misconduct. The most common causes of forest fires are careless behavior, such as throwing away cigarettes, and intentional arson. Therefore, all forest visitors are urgently asked to observe the existing bans and, in the event of a smoke development, to notify the fire brigade immediately. niedersachsen.de issues helpful rules of conduct:

• smoking in the forest is strictly prohibited.
• litter of cigarettes and burning objects is prohibited.
• grilling may only take place in designated places.
• A minimum distance of 50 meters to the forest must be observed.
• park on designated forest parking spaces.
Report
• fires immediately and specify the exact location.

In addition, with increased risk of forest fires, like now, the Harz narrow -gauge railways may change their timetable. Steam locomotives are no longer allowed to drive to Brocken, but hold on three Annen Hohne. These are important measures to continue to minimize the risk of fires.

climate change as a driving force

Climate change has noticeably increased the risk of forest fire in Lower Saxony. As the Environmental Federal Office , dry vegetation and extreme weather conditions-as we have experienced in recent years-are decisive for the increasing risk. Even if the area of ​​forest fires in Germany decreased between 1991 and 2017, there was a significant increase between 2018 and 2019 due to extreme drought, especially in the northeastern federal states. Investments in prevention measures and infrastructure are therefore needed to effectively meet the challenges of the upcoming summer.

With these measures and a watchful view of nature, we can hopefully prevent forest fires from spreading and rising for humans and animals.