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Firefighting aircraft in the Harz Mountains: Pioneers in the fight against growing forest fires!
On July 9, 2025, firefighting aircraft will be activated in the Harz district to efficiently fight forest fires. Costs and application methods in focus.
Firefighting aircraft in the Harz Mountains: Pioneers in the fight against growing forest fires!
Since April 2023, two firefighting aircraft have been available in the Harz district, which can be crucial in combating forest fires. These single-engine firefighting aircraft, known as SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker), have an impressive capacity of 2,200 liters of fire-fighting water and are particularly suitable for rough terrain. According to Balcerowski, one of the pioneers of aerial firefighting, the firefighting aircraft can be activated at any time if it is not needed in the Harz district. “Some people are now approaching the topic,” he explains. Activation takes place very unbureaucratically after a call to the control center for other regions.
Once the alarm is raised, the time to arrive on site is just 10 to 15 minutes, and the first water drop can occur within 40 minutes. The SEATs are maneuverable and are perfect for fighting forest fires, especially in inaccessible or difficult to access areas where firefighters on the ground remain essential. “A firefighting aircraft can fight forest fires with pinpoint precision, similar to a helicopter,” says an expert.
Efficiency and costs
The costs for using a firefighting aircraft amount to around 3,400 euros net per hour, which, according to district fire chief Kai-Uwe Lohse, is billed to the respective district. It is important that the fire department has a selection of resources to suit different situations. The Dromaders used in this context only require a take-off distance of 920 meters at maximum take-off weight and can also be used in Alpine regions when there is a risk of forest fires.
The extinguishing machine is filled with water in record time. A fire department team only needs about a minute to do this. During operations, the machines ideally patrol in the air so that they can intervene immediately in an emergency. These flying firefighters are not only a long-term innovation, but an absolute must because the increase in forest fires is alarming. Experts agree that climate change is increasing extreme weather conditions, which increase the risk of fires.
Collaboration and further development
In order to ensure optimal performance of the firefighting aircraft, temporary landing areas are set up to guarantee rapid circulation. Not only can water be absorbed at these points, but strategic drops can also be carried out over a length of up to 150 square meters or even over 500 meters. According to the German Air Rescue Service, it is difficult to use firefighting aircraft alone against forest and vegetation fires - at least two aircraft with a load capacity of over 2,000 liters are required.
It has been shown that the most effective solutions in the fight against forest fires result from a collaboration between the most modern firefighting aircraft and well-trained firefighters on the ground. Almost all experts recommend considering the use of fire fighting robots and other innovative technologies to optimally support the fire department.
The developments in the Harz district are promising, and it remains to be hoped that the progress in aerial firefighting will also set a precedent in other regions in order to master the increasing challenge posed by forest fires. To find out more, go here: MDR, DLFR and aeroreport.