Major fire in Gösselsdorf: 27 firefighters fight the flames!

Major fire in Gösselsdorf: 27 firefighters fight the flames!

The fire is causing alarming waves in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district. Today, July 3, 2025, there was a call for help in the region at 1:14 a.m. The Thuringian State Administration Office had requested the support of the Altenburger Land district's water disaster control train to help with a large-scale forest fire in Gösselsdorf. A forest area of ​​around 300 hectares is affected, which is difficult to control despite the rapid alert and mobilized forces. At 2:45 a.m., 27 comrades from the water unit headed by Kay Seiler set off. On site they are equipped with various vehicles, including two fire engines, a command vehicle and a personnel transport vehicle.

The situation on site remains tense and the duration of the operation is currently uncertain. The fire department must do everything it can to reduce the flames to a minimum and protect nature. This is not the first forest fire for the emergency services this season. Just a few weeks earlier, they had had to mobilize their forces during a fire between Braunsdorf and Oberwirbach, which spread over around 12 hectares and was fought by over 350 firefighters. District Administrator Marko Wolfram thanked the helpers and emphasized the importance of cooperation with various institutions, including the Technical Relief Organization and the Johanniter Accident Assistance. Without the support of these organizations, fighting the fires would not have been possible, said Wolfram.

Danger of forest fires in Thuringia

But the fires are not just a local problem; they reflect an increased risk throughout the region. According to ThüringenForst, forest fire danger levels have risen sharply in recent years. The official forest fire statistics show that danger levels 4 and 5 were reached on 50 days in 2022, while there were only four days in 2021. This worrying development became apparent as early as March 2022, when the second highest threat level was identified for the first time. The concern of Volker Gebhardt, CEO of ThüringenForst, reminds us that the vigilance of the population is of great importance in times of rising temperatures and drought.

The causes of these burning dangers are often human. Michael Haun, acting head of the Office for Civil Protection, therefore appeals to citizens to exercise extreme caution when dealing with fire. Grilling, smoking and open fires should be avoided at all times during times of high risk of forest fires in order to prevent similar disasters.

In addition to the challenges posed by wildfires, the county is investing in fire department infrastructure. District Administrator Wolfram emphasized that in 2025 the Free State would provide 224,000 euros to support the personal equipment of firefighters. In addition, the Bad Blankenburg fire department received a new emergency response vehicle worth over 500,000 euros, a significant portion of which was financed by the district. Such investments are essential to meet the challenges that nature presents us and to ensure operational readiness.

In view of the feared fires, citizens can only hope that the emergency services can quickly bring what is currently raging in the forests around Gösselsdorf under control. Together with the diverse support units that are already active, the hope remains that more areas can be saved from the flames.

abg-net.de reports on the deployment of the water disaster control train, kreis-slf.de provides insights into past operations and on thueringenforst.de You can find important statistics on the risk of forest fires in Thuringia.