– – – – –
Im Saxon Switzerland National Park 148 firefighters prevented the fire from spreading. By Tuesday evening, five helicopters, including three from the Bundeswehr, and hundreds of firefighters had fought the fire. In some areas, the water supply is problematic – long hose lines from the Elbe and the Kirnitzsch have to be laid. In addition, the extinguishing water is brought to the area by tankers.
The fire spread from the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Czech Republic to the Saxon Switzerland National Park on Monday. In Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland, a disaster alarm has been in effect since Tuesday. Tourists should avoid the area. In the district of Saxon Switzerland-Osterzgebirge, the forests may no longer be entered until further notice. Residential areas were initially not threatened.
Weather forecast gives hope
Meanwhile, the weather seems to support the emergency services on Wednesday: As reported by the German Weather Service (DWD) in Leipzig, rain is slowly moving eastwards from the Vogtland in the morning and will reach the Ore Mountains and later also Saxon Switzerland at noon. However, it cannot be said how heavy the rain will be, said the meteorologist from Leipzig.
According to the DWD, the wind in southern Brandenburg will be weak on average on Wednesday. In the course of the day, however, gusts of up to 40 kilometers per hour could occur again. “But there is no rain in sight until Friday evening,” said meteorologist Helga Scheef.
Forest fire spread from the Czech Republic
In Czech Republic Around 450 firefighters near the German border continue to fight one of the largest forest fires in the country’s history. The flames raged over an area of around ten square kilometers in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, as a spokesman for the emergency services said on Wednesday. However, further spread was prevented. In the town of Hrensko near the border with Germany, turntable ladders were used to extinguish embers in the rocks above the town. So far, around 450 people have had to leave their homes and apartments.
Firefighters arrived from distant regions of the Czech Republic to relieve exhausted colleagues. With wood harvesting machines, so-called harvesters, aisles are to be cut in the forest to put barriers in the way of the fire. Two helicopters that can drop water from containers also arrived from Poland and Slovakia. Four Czech police and army helicopters have been in action for days.
The forest fire broke out on Sunday. The Czech National Park Bohemian Switzerland borders on the Saxon Switzerland on the German side. It offers unique rock formations such as the Prebischtor, a rock bridge made of sandstone. The national park has existed since the year 2000 and covers an area of almost 80 square kilometers.
–
Related
