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Major fire in Gösselsdorf: Over 250 hectares of forest in danger!
A forest fire is raging across 250 hectares in the Saale-Orla district. Over 300 emergency services are fighting the flames.
Major fire in Gösselsdorf: Over 250 hectares of forest in danger!
There is a huge fire in the Gösselsdorf region on the Saalfelder Höhe: a forest fire has spread to over 250 hectares since Wednesday and has presented the emergency services with a major challenge. The situation remains tense because, according to current reports from Antenne Thüringen, the flames are still not under control. Due to strong winds, new embers were ignited, making extinguishing work even more difficult.
Since the fire broke out at 5:30 p.m., the disaster alarm has kept our country in suspense. Over 300 firefighters and helpers have been mobilized to fight the flames. They receive support from drones that monitor the situation from the air, as well as from police helicopters that can jump in with up to 1,000 liters of water. Despite all efforts, there are currently - according to the findings of Nordbayern - no visible flames to be seen, but the risk of fire remains high.
Health warnings and recommendations
The development of smoke gas is another serious problem. Residents in several districts in Thuringia, such as Sonnerberg and Saale-Orla-Kreis, as well as in neighboring Bavarian districts such as Kronach, Kulmbach and Hof, were urgently warned to keep windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation and air conditioning. Health risks can currently be observed in Kronach, while there is no acute danger in Hof. Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier assessed the situation as "serious", while Prime Minister Mario Voigt praised the emergency services for their tireless efforts and called for caution when dealing with forest areas.
Such a massive spread of forest fires is not just a regional problem, but a nationwide phenomenon. According to Statista, Germany has increasingly struggled with this challenge in recent years. Over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by fires in 2023, which is lower than over 3,000 hectares in 2022, the year with the highest destruction in 30 years, but draws needed attention to changing climatic conditions. The frequency and intensity of fires are increased by increasingly dry and hot summers, a development that is also severely affecting other countries, particularly in southern Europe.
A look ahead to the coming days
The extinguishing work is expected to last until next weekend, as new embers continue to appear in the forest. The German population should be aware of these risks and take appropriate precautionary measures. The emergency services are working closely together to contain the devastating effects of this major fire. ANTENNE THÜRINGEN will continually report on developments and keep citizens up to date.