Forest fire in the Eifel National Park: Fire brigade fights flames!

Forest fire in the Eifel National Park: Fire brigade fights flames!

There was a forest fire near Nideggen-Schmidt in the Eifel National Park on Saturday afternoon, which was caused by a campfire that was not completely extinguished. The first callers reported smoke at 3:26 p.m., but the exact location of the source of the fire was initially unclear, which made it difficult for the emergency services to take action. Around 50 firefighters were involved and the extinguishing work lasted until around 10 p.m. The fire area covered 100 to 200 square meters, and the fire brigade had to use firefighting backpacks and soil preparation tools because the fire site was not accessible to vehicles. A police helicopter and a drone from the Düren district were used to provide support, reported Tixio.

The cause of the fire was a fire that was not properly extinguished. These types of incidents are becoming increasingly common; not just in the Eifel National Park, but everywhere in Germany. Loud Review online The risk of forest fires has increased in recent years due to increasing drought and heat waves associated with climate change.

Increasing risk of forest fires due to climate change

The numbers speak for themselves: In 2023, over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by forest fires in Germany, whereas in the previous year over 3,000 hectares went up in flames, which was the highest value in the last thirty years. The majority of these fires are due to human error, such as arson or carelessness. About half of the causes of fires remain unknown, while only 27 fires in 2023 were of natural origin, according to analysis by Statista shows.

The annual threat of forest fires not only damages the environment, but also has far-reaching financial and health consequences. Not only the forests in Germany itself are particularly affected, but also countries such as Brazil, the USA and Australia, where fires were recorded in alarming numbers in the first half of 2023. In California, for example, 2020 experienced one of the most devastating years in terms of the area affected.

Such an incident in the Eifel National Park highlights the need for cautious outdoor measures and awareness of the dangers posed by open fires. The more people spend time outdoors, the more important it is to use fire responsibly. The current fires are a reminder that forest fire prevention is a top priority, as they not only endanger flora and fauna, but can also drastically affect air quality.

The main demands are clear: raising awareness of wildfires, training on how to properly deal with fire and increased monitoring of areas at risk to minimize such incidents in the future. Every individual can contribute to protecting forests and preserving nature.