Danger of forest fires in the Harz: Red alert and first entry bans!

Danger of forest fires in the Harz: Red alert and first entry bans!

The risk of forest fires in Saxony-Anhalt is currently alarmingly high. In the Harz district there were 100 forest and vegetation fires last year alone, 39 of which were forest fires. Increasing drought is cited as the main cause of this development, which affects not only forest owners but also the entire region. Cornelius Meyer-Stork, a forest owner from Ilsenburg, has recognized this problem and uses an old fire truck to irrigate his forest and transport tools. He has been managing around 260 hectares of forest since 2002 and is actively fighting the risk of fire.

But spruce and pine trees are not the only ones suffering from the drought. The highest forest fire danger level 5 already applies in the Wittenberg district, which is the first declaration of this level in the current summer season. Here, walkers are no longer allowed to leave the main paths, and there is a smoking ban that came into force from level 2. These regulations primarily affect tourist landscapes such as the Düben Heath and the Annaburg Heath and are also anchored in the State Forest Act.

Preventive measures against forest fires

In order to counteract the impending danger, the Harz National Park is relying on technical innovations. A drone system with smoke detectors is being tested here to detect forest fires at an early stage. According to district fire chief Kai-Uwe Lohse, it is also necessary to expand wide forest paths for fire engines in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency. A fire-fighting aircraft, the “Hexe 1”, supports the fire departments on site and Lohse is calling for a permanent fire-fighting aircraft squadron for the whole of Saxony-Anhalt in order to be able to operate across the board.

Another problem is the availability of extinguishing water. In the Harz, extinguishing water containers have already been set up at various locations in order to be available to the emergency services as quickly as possible. Touchpoints are crucial here, because 94% of the forest fires since 2022 have broken out near the Harz narrow-gauge railway. This train has installed safety devices to prevent flying sparks and only runs on diesel when the forest fire level is 4.

Humans as a cause of fire and the influence of climate change

What is particularly worrying is that many forest fires are man-made. Meyer-Stork calls for more public awareness in order to raise awareness of this point. At the same time, the region is also struggling with the effects of climate change. Forecasts show an increasing number of extreme weather events, including heavy rain and heat waves, which further increase the risk of forest fires. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change points out that if climate change goes unchecked, there is a risk of warming of up to 5.4 °C by 2100, which could worsen the situation.

The forest fire situation remains tense and requires quick action. The population is asked to adhere to the applicable rules and to protect nature as best as possible in order to preserve the beauty of the local forests.