Status: 08/12/2022 07:29 a.m
A good 400 emergency services are fighting a forest fire in the Harz National Park. 37 hectares near Wernigerode in the border area with Lower Saxony are affected.
According to the fire brigade, around 400 emergency services fought against the flames. The fire broke out on Thursday near Wernigerode (Harz district) in Saxony-Anhalt – on the border with Lower Saxony. The fire is not yet under control. Most of the emergency services had to withdraw on Friday night because the rough terrain in the dark became too dangerous. They resumed operations on Friday morning. Four helicopters and fire brigades from surrounding counties should also help. It is hoped that the fire will be contained soon, said Alexander Beck from the fire brigade to the NDR in Lower Saxony.
Brocken has already been evacuated
A spokesman for the control center said whether the fire in the Schierke district of Werningerod had spread further had to be checked again. Residential areas are not directly endangered for the time being. According to the latest findings, an area of 37 hectares is affected, according to the Harz rescue control center. The Brocken had already been evacuated on Thursday. All tourists and the people who work up there had to leave the area – because it is not certain how the fire will develop and the smoke is also dangerous. According to the fire department, the column of smoke was visible from afar.
Those responsible will provide information about the current situation around 10 a.m
The Harz narrow-gauge railway does not run. Roads around the area are also closed. Around 10 a.m., those responsible in the Harz want to step in front of the press and give an up-to-date picture of the situation. There had already been a fire on the Brocken in June. Six and a half hectares were in flames.
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