Giant forest fire in Thuringia: Help from Bavaria for Saalfeld!

Giant forest fire in Thuringia: Help from Bavaria for Saalfeld!

The situation surrounding the large forest fire on the Saalfelder Höhe in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district has now eased. Firefighting helicopters were no longer used on Sunday and the number of firefighters was reduced from around 500 to around 250. Loud MDR There are still smaller fires, so-called spot fires, and the emergency services continue to search intensively for embers. However, with the temperatures dropping and some rain, the situation is getting better.

Particular attention is paid to the fire boundary. Sprinkler systems that were previously used to keep the area moist have now been turned off. The shuttle service to obtain fire-fighting water was also stopped. However, the situation remains tense as rising winds can activate the embers, making the water supply more difficult.

Great effort from the fire brigade and support from Bavaria

Around 5,000 firefighters and helpers are deployed in the region. The Thuringian fire brigades are receiving support from, among others, southern Bavaria, where several fire brigades will be working in three shifts until probably Tuesday. Thuringia's Prime Minister Mario Voigt expressed his thanks to the emergency services and emphasized the importance of this solidarity.

Additional patrols and drone flights to monitor the fires are planned for Monday. Despite the relaxation, the situation is not considered to be “under control”. There remains enough work to be done, with charred tree stumps and a layer of soot still hampering firefighting efforts, and it is estimated that the operation will last at least a week.

Additional fires in Thuringia

Parallel to the events in Saalfeld, the situation is also tense in other regions of Thuringia. A field fire broke out in Zeulenroda-Triebes and spread to neighboring forests. Several fire departments are also on duty here. This leads to heavy smoke development, especially in the area around Langenwolschendorf. The central control center in Gera called on the population to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the area as the fire was not yet under control at the time Thuringia24 reported.

Forest protection in Germany

The current fire situation once again highlights the need for forest protection in Germany. Data on forest fires has been collected since the 1970s and summarized in nationwide statistics that document area sizes, causes and losses. This information is important for conducting forecasts and risk assessments and will help minimize the number and area size of wildfires in the future. The forest not only has useful but also protective and recreational functions, which are of great importance for the high population density in Germany, as the website of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food shows ble.de highlights.

The work of the fire brigade in Thuringia remains extremely important as the region adapts to the challenges of fighting fires. Ultimately, it is important to protect the forests and ensure that such devastating fires do not happen again.