Risk of forest in northern Saxony: strict bans for forest visitors!

Risk of forest in northern Saxony: strict bans for forest visitors!

In the northern district of North Saxony, the risk of forest fire has currently reached an alarming level. The highest risk level 5 has been in effect since Tuesday, which means that entering the forests in the area of ​​the Dübener Heide and Eastelbia is strictly forbidden. In other parts of the district, you still have to deal with level 4, which allows access to forests, but prohibits leaving the paths. These drastic measures are a reaction to the persistent heat and drought, which have already led to several fire brigade operations. The situation is so serious that several fires that required the help of the fire brigade were noticeable on Monday. Wermsdorf was particularly affected, where a fire broke out on around 100 square meters of forest floor. The municipalities of Kemmlitz and Doberschütz were also not spared and had to deal with smoke and flames.

Even the fire of a railway embankment near Krensitz caused a sensation, whereby the affected area was around 50 square meters. The fire in Klitschmar, in which twelve voluntary fire departments were used, was particularly worrying, since a forest and field fire raged here on around five hectares. There are also numerous other missions that keep the emergency services in suspense. The situation was already tense on Sunday evening when there were fires in the Mücken district of Kemmlitz and in the Wermsdorf area. Here were the first signs of the risk of fire, which can spread quickly.

forest fire ranks in the Free State of Saxony

The current developments are not an isolated case. The forest fire season in Saxony begins annually on March 1 and runs until October, with 91 percent of the fires occurring during this period. North Saxony is one of the particularly affected regions, and the monitoring of the forest areas is carried out by an automatic forest fire early detection system. Sachsenforst and the German Weather Service keep the population up to date on the current danger levels. Currently you can call up the forest fire risks for 31 predictions, emphasizes sachsen.de.

The figures from 2022 are particularly alarming when a total of 215 forest fires were registered in Saxony. The economic damage amounted to around three million euros, which underpins the need for a consistent forest fire protection. Statistics show that only a fraction of the fires were triggered by natural causes such as lightning. The vast majority, about 122 fires, were caused by negligent behavior. So it is clear that each individual is required to contribute to the protection of the forests.

rules of conduct and prevention

A central aspect in combating the forest fire risks is the strictly observing regulation that concerns dealing with open fire in the forest. All year round, it is forbidden to smoke, grill or spark campfire. If you do not adhere to these regulations, you have to expect fines that can be up to 1,000 euros, as Wald Sachsen. Driving forest paths with motor vehicles is also prohibited in order to keep emergency routes free and not to hinder the emergency services in the event of a fire.

Especially with the current danger levels 4 and 5, great caution is required. The municipalities are responsible for monitoring compliance with these regulations. It is essential to act quickly in the event of discoveries of fires and to make the emergency call under 112. In addition, the population expects future weather conditions to promote no further forest fires, while drought has increasingly presented forest fire protection in recent years.