The risk of forest fires continues to increase due to the severe drought in Bavaria. The German Weather Service expected the highest warning level in many regions from Tuesday. Relaxation is not in sight for the time being. From Wednesday afternoon and Thursday, rain and thunderstorms with severe showers are possible in some places. But already on Friday it should be mostly warm and dry in midsummer, as the weather service announced.
Agriculture Minister Michaela Kaniber (CSU) is therefore appealing to all visitors to the forest to be particularly careful: “The current heat wave and the prevailing drought are causing the forest floors in many places to be covered with dried, easily inflammable leaves, twigs and needles. Even a carelessly thrown away cigarette butt enough to start a serious forest fire.” Parking on dry grass can also be dangerous because of the hot vehicle catalytic converters.
After weeks of drought, the fire brigades in Lower Franconia already went out on fires in forests and fields on Monday. For example, there was a fire between Amorbach and Neudorf. Several firefighters were injured during the operations.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, planes and helicopters are on the move in all Bavarian administrative districts to observe the forests from above and to discover possible fires. “Across Bavaria we have around 300 volunteer pilots with more than 150 fixed-wing aircraft and five helicopters,” said Joachim Herrmann (CSU), the Minister responsible for civil protection. “This allows our approximately 250 specially trained air observers to monitor the situation very effectively and closely from the air.” The fire brigade can also be supported from the air during firefighting. In Bavaria, helicopters were used instead of firefighting aircraft.