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Large forest fire in Thuringia: 5,000 firefighters on duty!
Firefighters are fighting the largest forest fire in Thuringia in 30 years near Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, supported by volunteers.
Large forest fire in Thuringia: 5,000 firefighters on duty!
The largest forest fire in over 30 years is currently raging in Thuringia. Around 5,000 firefighters are on duty to fight the flames on the Saalfelder Höhe near Gösselsdorf, where the fire started last Wednesday and quickly grew from an initial ten hectares to around 250 hectares. MDR reports that Jürgen Reichel, an 81-year-old volunteer, with his 65 years of experience in disaster relief, joined the care trains to provide food and sanitation.
The situation is complicated by wind and difficulties with the water supply. Farmers are supporting the fire department with tank trucks, while a police helicopter had to stop its activities due to a technical defect. According to the latest information from ThuringiaForst A new fire arose during the extinguishing work, and even the rain on Thursday night did not bring any significant relief.
Fire department in constant operation
There are currently around 670 firefighters active in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district and received support from firefighters from Bavaria on Friday. The situation also stabilized on Saturday when three fire-fighting helicopters were deployed. A large kitchen including a hygiene area and a goulash cannon was set up in front of the fire station to feed the brave rescuers. MDR adds that there are 22 disaster control support trains available in Thuringia, all of which have the same equipment.
The challenges are enormous and firefighters must ensure that equipment and tents are thoroughly cleaned and checked after operations. This shows how serious the situation actually is and how important careful follow-up is.
Causes and prevention
Beyond the acute situation, there is also a trend that forest fires in Germany are increasingly being caused by human behavior. How ThuringiaForst emphasizes, careless behavior remains the main cause of forest fires, which often starts with grilling or smoking in nature. The forest fire danger map, which has been published for Thuringia since March 1st, helps to better assess the risks.
Climate change is exacerbating this problem and leading to more extreme weather conditions. Regular wildfire prevention measures and technology have shifted our priorities in recent years. In addition to the usual measures, ThüringenForst has invested in new firefighting units to support the fire department.
Forest fire statistics confirm that significant progress has been made in documenting and fighting forest fires since the 1970s. The data collected not only helps in risk assessment, but also in developing strategies to avoid the destruction of valuable forest areas. Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture points out that the protection and preservation of forests is becoming increasingly important in a densely populated country like Germany.
The fight against the flames is relentless and requires the tireless efforts of many. But there remains hope that the brave firefighters will continue to find the courage to penetrate this heated hell and defeat the impending disaster.