Mission from Munich: Fire brigade fights forest fire in Thuringia!

Mission from Munich: Fire brigade fights forest fire in Thuringia!

On Sunday, July 6, 2025, a dedicated contingent from the Munich district made its way to Saalfelder Höhe in Thuringia. The flaming operation was launched at the request of the state of Thuringia to help with a forest fire that was breaking out in Gösselsdorf. More than 250 hectares of forest area have been affected since the fire broke out on Wednesday, July 2nd. As a result of these dramatic circumstances, a disaster was even declared in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, as unser-wuermtal.de reports.

Around 110 emergency services, including members of 14 volunteer fire departments, the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe and the district fire inspection, were part of this important contingent. These motivated helpers got ready in Garching on Sunday morning and then set off in a convoy towards Thuringia. Not only did they have a variety of vehicles on board - from swap-loader vehicles to tank fire engines to a car with a special forest fire container - but also comprehensive equipment for effective firefighting.

Operational exercise on the Osser

At the same time, a fictitious forest fire exercise on the Osser took place in the border area between Germany and the Czech Republic, in which over 1,300 volunteer emergency services took part, including the Thürnstein-Schrenkenthal fire department, led by commander Stefan Menacher. The focus here was on the challenge of installing delivery lines for the extinguishing water over impassable terrain. Water was pumped from the community of Lohberg and the reservoir on the Großer Arber in order to put the required 50 cubic meters into a water tank in the parking lot of a cross-country skiing center as a buffer. Several helicopters supported the exercise, but could only be used in addition to the ground operations, as br.de informed.

Various technical aids were used in the exercise: off-road Unimogs and tractors transported pumps and hoses. Local residents and even the mountain rescue service played a role by simulating injured hikers being taken to the aid tents. The exercise highlighted not only the physical demands placed on firefighters, but also the need for precise organization in a real crisis situation.

Challenges and prevention measures

Given the frequent forest fires that are increasing due to climate change, preventive measures are essential. Forest fires not only endanger the environment, but also human infrastructure. Studies show that 50% of the causes of forest fires are unknown, while 27% are caused by negligence and 18% by arson. This makes educational campaigns that help minimize the risk of fires all the more important, for example by avoiding open fires in the forest or disposing of cigarette butts properly. The Ingenieur.de emphasizes that further focus should be placed on techniques and technologies for early detection.

The challenge of fighting forest fires should not be limited to operations alone. Recent developments in technical support and the integration of new materials and extinguishing agents show that the future of firefighting should lie not only in responding to existing fires, but above all in prevention and thoughtful planning. The awareness of this responsibility connects both the practitioners on site and the strategists in town halls and ministries who have to act in the face of climate change.