Suche
Mein Konto
In dramatic forest fires: hope in Thuringia, danger in Saxony!
Forest fires in Saxony and Thuringia: Around 300 emergency services are fighting fires in Gohrischheide; Evacuated locations remain unstable.
In dramatic forest fires: hope in Thuringia, danger in Saxony!
The situation in Saxony and Thuringia remains tense, while around 300 THW staff have been working in the fight against devastating forest fires since July 2, 2025. Although the situation in Gösseldorf in the Saalfeld district is gradually easing, things look much more complicated in Gohrischheide, Saxony. There the flames are blazing on a former GDR military training area, which poses an additional danger: explosions from ammunition that is still hidden in the ground. Emergency services are therefore forced to maintain a respectful distance from this contaminated area, as THW.de reports.
In total, hundreds of firefighters are on duty, and the fire on Saalfelder Höhe is considered the largest in Thuringia in 30 years. Around 400 emergency services from various organizations work hand in hand. Although the situation can be classified as stable, there is no all-clear in sight. The wind conditions play a decisive role in the extinguishing attempts and increase the difficulties, especially on steep slopes. The goal remains to contain the fires before the situation worsens further, as Tagesschau.de notes.
Evacuations and disaster alerts
The evacuation of another location, Jacobsthal train station in Saxony, is a clear sign of the danger that affects around 45 people. The fire department has the situation under control for the time being, although the evacuation must be maintained until Saturday evening. Nevertheless, there is light on the horizon: the night was cool and there was no further dynamic in the fire. However, some districts, such as Heidehäuser in Wülknitz, remain evacuated due to the ammunition load.
With the takeover of the disaster in Thuringia and the associated measures, the emergency services are well prepared. But the weather forecasts do not indicate any significant rainfall, which makes fighting the fires even more difficult. There are also cool temperatures at night, which, according to experts, could help prevent the situation from getting worse.
Forest fire risk in Germany
A look at the forest fire statistics shows that a total of 1,059 forest fires were registered in Germany in 2023, which represents a decrease of half compared to 2022. However, the area affected was larger than the long-term average, with Brandenburg at the top of the statistical overview. Over 251 fires were recorded there, many of them in areas contaminated with ammunition, which made extinguishing work more difficult, as the Federal Environment Agency reports.
Given climate changes, the risk of forest fires is predicted to increase in the coming years. Higher temperatures and less rainfall are making the situation precarious in many regions. As cleanup efforts continue in Saxony and Thuringia, looking back at past fires is a stark reminder that prevention and rapid response are essential to keeping future fires at bay.
The firefighting efforts are expected to continue until the beginning of next week. In the meantime, the emergency services are relying on civil commitment, with farmers supporting the fire brigade with fire-fighting water. The solidarity between the civilian population and emergency services shows that solidarity is required in times of crisis.