Forest fire extinguished in Gohrischheide - area remains closed until August

Forest fire extinguished in Gohrischheide - area remains closed until August

In the last two weeks, a large-scale forest fire in the Gohrischheide, a natural area on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, has affected the region. Now the all-clear has finally been given: The Zeithain fire department reported on Wednesday morning that the fire had been extinguished. This is reported by MDR. The areas, some of which were severely damaged, were officially handed over to Sachsenforst and the fire department has completed their work.

The fire broke out on July 1st and quickly spread. With a total of around 2,400 hectares affected, this is the largest forest fire in Saxony in more than 30 years. This area corresponds to more than three quarters of the entire Gohrischheide nature reserve, which covers a total of around 2,800 hectares. District Administrator Ralf Hänsel (CDU) said that the operations could continue for a few more days or even weeks as the terrain still needs to be controlled.

Sustainable consequences for nature

The impact of this fire cannot be underestimated. The area burned has exceeded the annual average in Germany and will have a long-term impact on nature. Wildfires are known to impact the stability and vitality of forest ecosystems. Younger and sparse coniferous forests, which are considered vulnerable to fire, are particularly affected. According to figures from the Federal Environment Agency (https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/land-forstwirtschaft/waldbraende), the situation in Germany is generally conservative: There were significantly fewer fires in 2023 than in the previous year, but the average burning area is above the long-term average.

Another problem is the legal situation: Due to a general order from the Meißen district, the area will remain closed until at least August 12th. This decision is primarily related to the contamination of the ground by ammunition found in the region. A ban on entry is therefore essential and is intended to ensure the safety of the population. The closed area continues to require the attention of forestry staff, who remain on site to monitor the situation.

Increased risk of forest fires in the future

The risk of forest fires is estimated to be high in the coming years. Rising temperatures and a decrease in precipitation contribute negatively to this. Forest fire events in Germany have already shown regionally different patterns, with increased fire cases in northeast Germany as well as in the east and on the Upper Rhine. The forecasts suggest that converting conifer monocultures into more stable mixed forests could be a valuable measure to minimize the risk of forest fires.

However, the challenges are not over with the end of the fire in Gohrischheide. The region must adapt to sustainable management, which includes not only restoring nature but also protecting against future forest fires. The events show once again how important it is that we treat and protect our forests responsibly.