Suche
Mein Konto
Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Fire brigade gives the all-clear after a fatal fire
Major fire in Saxony: After a forest fire in Gohrischheide, the fire department gives the all-clear. 2,400 hectares affected, cleanup work begins.
Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Fire brigade gives the all-clear after a fatal fire
In the Gohrischheide, a nature reserve in Saxony, the major fire that broke out on July 1st has been brought under control. Today, July 13, 2025, the fire department was able to give the all-clear after heavy rain, even if no “fire out” was officially reported. However, the acute danger for residents and the surrounding area has been averted, as Zeit.de reports.
The forestry administration describes the fire as the largest forest fire in Saxony in decades, covering an affected area of around 2,400 hectares. A large part of the nature reserve, which is contaminated with old ammunition, suffers from this. This made extinguishing work considerably more difficult, as many fires could only be fought from a safe distance. The fire department speaks of a huge clean-up project coming up, including the dismantling of kilometers of hose lines.
Facilitation and evaluation
District Administrator Ralf Hänsel expressed relief that the forest fire had been controlled and said that fortunately there were no human casualties. However, three firefighters were injured while a total of 370 firefighters from various organizations continue to fight the fire. The disaster alert in the Meißen district will be lifted at 3 p.m., a decision that gives hope to many residents, as MDR.de reports.
The Nina warning app has already given the all-clear for the communities of Zeithain, Wülknitz and the city of Gröditz. Experts from the Saxon State Environment Agency and Agriculture Minister Georg-Ludwig von Breitenbuch (CDU) visited the fire area on Friday to assess the effects of the forest fire and discuss the future of the munitions-contaminated forest.
The background and outlook
Interestingly, an analysis by the Umweltbundesamt shows that a total of 1,059 forest fires were registered in Germany in 2023, which represents a 50 percent decrease compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the very recent forest fire in the Gohrischheide remains worrying. 86 percent of the vegetation in the nature reserve is affected, and old munitions complicate rapid recovery.
The major fire not only affected the landscape, but also shows that the summer season between May and July is critical for forest fires. Researchers warn that the risk could increase in the coming decades due to rising temperatures and falling rainfall. This is supported by the high proportion of unidentified causes of forest fires, which, according to statistics, account for around 51 percent.
The affected areas in the Gohrischheide can only be restored with difficulty because they are subject to serious damage from the fire and the contaminated sites. However, converting conifer monocultures into mixed forests could provide preventive protection against forest fires in the future to avoid similar disasters.
The clean-up work is imminent and the communities that have already suffered from the disaster are hoping for a quick return to normality. The coming weeks will be crucial, both for the local people and for nature in the Gohrischheide.