Forest fires in Saxony and Thuringia: Why are we still not prepared? – A commentary

It's frightening that we face the same misery every summer. Hectares of forest are ablaze, villages have to be evacuated, dozens of people are forced to leave their homes, while hundreds of firefighters try to bring the blaze under control. This is what's happening again now in the Gohrischheide region on the border of Saxony and Brandenburg. Each time, the (often volunteer!) emergency personnel risk their lives in these fires, and each time, extinguishing them is an immense challenge.

Because, although forest fires break out in Germany every year, we are still not adequately prepared for them. There's a lack of protective clothing and robust, off-road vehicles, says forest fire expert and firefighter Ulrich Cimolino. Furthermore, many emergency personnel aren't even trained in how to properly respond to a forest fire, for example, how to lay hoses in forests.

These structural deficiencies are absolutely unacceptable after decades of forest fire experience and—to stay with the metaphor—are dangerous. The risk of forest fires is increasing, fueled in part by the climate crisis. Warmer springs cause vegetation to dry out earlier, and the fire danger begins earlier in the year—as is the case this year. Longer, hotter summers have also lengthened the fire season in Germany.

Under these circumstances, it is to be feared that fire departments will have to respond to forest fires more frequently in the future. Failure to train and equip them better would mean accepting the loss of human life.

But forest fire prevention begins with each individual. Many people still underestimate the danger, for example, when they carelessly throw away their lit cigarette in the forest or park their car on a dry meadow where hot vehicle parts can ignite a fire. Heat and dryness alone do not trigger forest fires. In most cases, the arsonist is human.

Relying on common sense will not be enough to prevent future fires. Fire safety education must also be strengthened – for example, through increased awareness-raising activities in schools or regular information campaigns with posters, online resources, or on television.

A forest fire not only causes economic damage through the loss of timber or damage to infrastructure such as forest roads. It also always causes ecological damage. Habitats for animals and plants are lost, soil fertility suffers, and climate-damaging greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are released, contributing to global warming. Increased global warming can, in turn, mean more forest fires. Breaking this vicious cycle must be an even greater priority for us.