Danger of forest fires in northern Saxony: Strict bans on forest visitors!

Danger of forest fires in northern Saxony: Strict bans on forest visitors!

In the northern district of North Saxony, the risk of forest fires has currently reached an alarming level. The highest danger level, 5, has been in effect since Tuesday, which means that entering the forests in the Dübener Heide and Ostelbien areas is strictly prohibited. In other parts of the county you are still dealing with level 4, which allows access to forests but prohibits leaving the paths. These drastic measures are a response to the ongoing heat and dryness, which have already led to several fire brigade operations. The situation is so serious that several fires broke out on Monday, requiring the help of the fire department. Wermsdorf was particularly affected, where a fire broke out on around 100 square meters of forest floor. The communities of Kemmlitz and Doberschütz were not spared either and had to deal with smoke and flames.

Even the fire on a railway embankment near Krensitz caused a stir, with the area affected amounting to around 50 square meters. The fire in Klitschmar, in which twelve volunteer fire departments were deployed, was particularly worrying as a forest and field fire raged across around five hectares. There are also numerous other operations that keep the emergency services on their toes. The situation was already tense on Sunday evening when fires broke out in the Mügeln district of Kemmlitz and in the Wermsdorf area. This is where the first signs of the fire danger appeared, which can spread quickly.

Forest fire dangers in the Free State of Saxony

The current developments are not an isolated case. The forest fire season in Saxony begins annually on March 1st and runs until October, with 91 percent of fires occurring during this period. Northern Saxony is one of the regions particularly affected, and the forest areas are monitored using an automatic early forest fire detection system. Sachsenforst and the German Weather Service keep the population informed daily about the current danger levels. The forest fire risks for 31 forecast regions can currently be accessed online, emphasizes Sachsen.de.

The numbers 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 underlines the need for consistent forest fire protection. Statistics show that only a fraction of fires were started by natural causes such as lightning. The vast majority, approximately 122 fires, were caused by negligent behavior. It is therefore clear that every individual is required to do their part to protect the forests.

Rules of conduct and prevention

A central aspect in combating the risk of forest fires is the strict compliance with regulations regarding the use of open fires in the forest. It is forbidden to smoke, grill or light campfires all year round. Anyone who does not adhere to these regulations must expect fines that can amount to up to 1,000 euros, as Wald Sachsen reports. Driving on forest paths with motor vehicles is also prohibited in order to keep rescue routes clear and not to hinder emergency services in the event of a fire.

Great caution is required, especially with the current danger levels 4 and 5. Municipalities are responsible for monitoring compliance with these regulations. It is essential to act quickly if a fire is discovered and to call 112. In addition, the population expects that future weather conditions will not promote further forest fires, while the drought in recent years has increasingly posed challenges to forest fire protection.

In view of these circumstances, it is crucial to find out about the risk of forest fires and appropriate rules of conduct on the Sachsenforst and German Weather Service websites. The “Forest Fire Danger Saxony” app also offers useful functions so you can react quickly in an emergency. Be sure to observe your surroundings and be careful - because the forests of our beautiful Free State are an important natural resource that needs to be protected.