Heat wave in Thuringia: The highest risk of forest fire threatens!
Heat wave in Thuringia: The highest risk of forest fire threatens!
The current weather conditions in Thuringia ensures great concern among the authorities. A heat wave is expected in particular this week, coupled with increasing drought, which drastically increases the risk of forest fire. According to Antenn Thuringia, the State Forest company Thuringia Forst states that some regions of the Freistaat Waldbrand hazard level 5 could reach. The most affected areas are the South Thuringian area, Mittelthüringen and the East Thuringian area, where there are particularly many pine forests.
The prediction of the German Weather Service is alarming: For Wednesday, the highest possible forest fire risk is expected in the areas of the Sonneberg, Heldburg and Kaltennordheim forest. In the northern and southern parts of Thuringia, a high danger level 4 is also registered; In the ridges of the Thuringian Forest and in the east, there is a medium danger level (level 3).
prevention measures and warnings
The responsible authorities warn of possible bans in heavily frequented areas to minimize the risk of forest fires. Forest fire prevention is particularly important: a strict ban on smoking applies in the forest, and wild grill parties and open fire should be targeted. In addition, forest paths and entrances should be kept free to enable quick intervention in the event of a fire. In the case of smoke columns in the forest, it is important to choose the 112 immediately.
- forest fire hazard levels at a glance:
- level 1: Very low danger. No restrictions for forest visitors.
- level 2: Low danger. No restrictions for forest visitors.
- level 3: medium danger. Information measures by Thuringia Forest are intensified.
- level 4: High danger. Grill places can be blocked by the forestry office.
- level 5: Very high danger. Flat forest closures possible, especially in very hot weather.
The figures of the previous forest fires in Thuringia are also worrying: in 2023 24 cases have already been registered on an area of two hectares, while in 2024 34 fires on 35 hectares were recorded. This increase is a clear sign that the dangers of forest fires have to be taken seriously.
climate change and its effects
The increased risk of forest fire is also a product of climate change that ensures concern worldwide. The world climate (IPCC) predicts warming up to 5.4 ° C to 2100 in frightening scenarios, provided no measures are taken. Such climatic changes lead to increasingly frequent weather extremes - such as heat waves, storm events and heavy rain - which continue to increase the risk of forest fires. The trend shows a reinforcement of the occurrence of successive summer days and tropical nights, which further heats up the risk of forest fires. According to forest knowledge these are the challenges that forestry must currently face.
It is now up to us to be careful with the forests and make a contribution to the prevention of fires. The forest is not only a habitat for numerous animal species, but also an important part of our nature that we have to protect.
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| Ort | Sonneberg, Deutschland |
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