Fire monsters in the forest: 230 firefighters fight the flames!

Fire monsters in the forest: 230 firefighters fight the flames!

On Monday, August 26, 2025, a forest fire broke out near Friedrichsthal, affecting an area of ​​one hectare. Over 230 brave firefighters from the surrounding districts of Sonneberg, Saalfeld and Kronach were deployed to fight the fire. How reported in southern Thuringia, the smoke development was reported to the rescue control center at 1:48 p.m. A cloud of black smoke was widely visible in the area, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. The exact location of the fire was identified as Ziehberg, and to make matters worse, a firefighter suffered injuries.

Forest fires have not only become more frequent in recent years, but also more dangerous. Rising temperatures and increasing drought caused by climate change are the main causes of these developments. Statista points out that over 3,000 hectares were lost to forest fires in Germany in 2022, which is a sad record. In 2023, the areas burned amounted to over 1,200 hectares. It turns out that Germany is increasingly affected by this natural phenomenon, which is usually associated with southern European countries and the Amazon region.

Climate change and its consequences

But forest fires are not only a result of climate change, they also significantly increase its effects. According to a study by the WWF, around 26 million hectares of forests were burned worldwide in 2023, releasing 8.8 billion tonnes of CO2. This corresponds to fifteen times Germany's annual CO2 emissions ZDF today Article explains. This highlights how wildfires not only lead to habitat destruction, but also contribute to worsening the climate crisis.

The main causes of forest fires are arson and negligence, with around half of fires having unknown causes. In 2023, there were only 27 forest fires in Germany that were of natural origin. It is therefore not surprising that the public is more aware than ever of the risks such fires pose when combined with droughts and extreme weather. The consequences are not only loss of space, but also major financial damage and negative health effects due to the release of fine dust into the atmosphere.

A call to action

The fire in Friedrichsthal shows once again that fighting forest fires is an important and urgent issue. The experts' urgent appeal is to strengthen protection of existing forests and take preventative measures to prevent future forest fires. Nature, with all its forests, is a valuable asset and should be treated with care so that future generations can also benefit from it.

Given recent events and global trends, it is crucial that we not only act locally but also think globally. Because as the numbers show, climate change is affecting all countries, and the effects are becoming more and more noticeable.