Forest fires threaten Thuringia and Saxony: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Forest fires threaten Thuringia and Saxony: Fire brigade in constant operation!

Devastating forest fires are currently raging in eastern Germany, keeping emergency services on tenterhooks. Over 1,000 firefighters are active in the fight against the flames that are raging in Thuringia and Saxony. The fire report from Saalfelder Höhe is considered one of the worst that the Free State has experienced in at least 30 years. The situation is tense, but the fire brigade has been able to keep the situation stable for the time being, as Peter Lahann, spokesman for the district office, emphasizes. In Thuringia in particular, 500 firefighters were mobilized to fight bravely against the spread of the fire.

The forest fire broke out near Gösselsdorf on Wednesday and has now spread to at least 250 hectares. However, in the last few hours the situation has calmed down, which gives the emergency services hope that they will quickly get the flames under control. Support comes from Bavaria, where a third fire-fighting helicopter arrives to reinforce the fire so that it can carry out targeted fire-fighting measures during the day. Despite the stable situation, the danger remains, especially in Gohrischheide on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg.

Emergency services and evacuations

The emergency services are well prepared, but the weather plays a crucial role. Although cooler nights have brought some relief, temperatures will rise at the weekend and could worsen the situation again. In Saxony, the evacuation of the town of Jacobsthal Bahnhof was ordered, affecting around 45 people. The Neudorf district in Zeithain also had to be evacuated temporarily, but the residents have now returned. The evacuation in Jacobsthal train station will remain in effect until Saturday evening, and the fire department is continuing to closely monitor the situation.

In Wülknitz, the Heidehäuser district remains cleared due to ammunition contamination, which makes fighting the fire even more difficult. Hundreds of firefighters are active throughout the operational area, including forces from the Technical Relief Agency (THW) and the Bundeswehr. The disaster alarm was triggered for the communities of Zeithain, Wülknitz and Gröditz. According to information, there are around 400 emergency services on site in Saxony, in addition to the around 562 forces in Thuringia.

A warning for Germany

The current situation illustrates how important it is to protect forests in Germany. According to statistics from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), a Germany-wide overview of forest fires has been created since the 1970s. The data is crucial to counteracting the risk of forest fires in the future. It is becoming increasingly clear that the number and size of forest fires in densely populated countries such as Germany represents a key challenge that needs to be overcome. It is hoped that fire prevention and control measures can be strengthened in the future to prevent such tragedies.

Finally, it remains to be hoped that the weather and the tireless efforts of the firefighters will soon end the chain of accidents. The emergency services are equipped with a large number of fire engines and even fire-fighting helicopters, while the civil commitment of farmers who provide fire-fighting water also makes a valuable contribution. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming days, but what is certain is that a comprehensive solution to the forest fire problem is necessary throughout Germany.

For the latest updates on the forest fires in Thuringia and Saxony, which are constantly changing, readers can visit the coverage Time and daily news track.