High temperatures expected - The risk of forest fires will increase in the coming days
High summer temperatures and no rain are expected in the Lüneburg Heath starting from Friday, increasing the Forest Fire Risk. The German Weather Service (DWD) predicts a level 5 warning for Faßberg (Celle district) on Saturday, which means "very high forest fire danger" in the DWD forest fire danger index.
This year, there have only been small forest and vegetation fires in Lower Saxony that were detected and extinguished early, as stated by the leader of the Forest Fire Control Center Lüneburg, Knut Sierk, to the dpa. Due to the rain, the forest fire danger has been significantly reduced recently. "Rainfall keeps the vegetation green and less flammable."
Other states are also warned
Since 2011, specially trained foresters of the Niedersächsische Landesforsten in Lüneburg have been monitoring approximately 440,000 hectares of forest in the particularly endangered northeastern part of Lower Saxony. They work with the so-called Automated Forest Fire Early Detection System (AWFS).
The sensitive sensors of the system can detect smoke development up to 20 kilometers away. After the automatic reporting of the sensors to the control center, live images are evaluated by the employees and trainees, determining the exact location of the fire and alerting the responsible fire department control center. Warnings are also sent to neighboring states such as Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from Lüneburg.
Smoking in the forest prohibited
"Most forest fires are caused by humans," said the leader of the Forest Fire Control Center. "Smoking and grilling, campfires, and illegal burning of garden and other waste can be triggers." Sierk appealed to follow the rules, for example, during hiking. Open fires in the forest, in the heath, and in dangerous proximity to them are prohibited from March 1 to October 31. This also includes smoking.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture in Hannover, there were 224 forest fires detected in Lower Saxony in the previous year. About half of the fire alarms came from the particularly endangered heath region. An area of about 19 hectares, or approximately 27 soccer fields, was affected. Forest fires mainly occurred in coniferous forests. These are more easily flammable due to their resin content, it was stated.
"The forest fire situation in 2023 was on an average level," said a ministry spokesperson. "The number of forest fires and their individual areas remained manageable, with an average of less than 1,000 square meters."
Heath soil cannot hold rain
According to Sierk, rain cannot be held in the sandy heath soil. When high temperatures, foehn winds, and low air humidity add to the situation, the forest fire danger can sometimes increase significantly from one day to the next.
Sierk believes that many forest fires have been prevented in the particularly endangered Lüneburg Heath thanks to the AWFS since its establishment in 2011. A total of 3059 forest fires have been reported to the respective fire department control centers in the monitoring area on the Lower Saxony side since then. "There have been no large forest and vegetation fires with an area of several hectares in the monitored area on the Lower Saxony side since then," emphasized Sierk.
Forest Fire Danger Index of the DWD for Lower Saxony
- The upcoming high temperatures and lack of rain in the Lüneburg Heath raise the Forest Fire Risk.
- The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a level 5 warning for Faßberg in the Celle district, indicating a "very high forest fire danger."
- This year, only small forest and vegetation fires have been reported in Lower Saxony, thanks to recent rainfall.
- Specially trained foresters in Lüneburg monitor approximately 440,000 hectares of forest to detect potential forest fires using the Automated Forest Fire Early Detection System (AWFS).
- Smoking and other human activities like grilling, campfires, and burning garden waste can trigger forest fires, according to the leader of the Forest Fire Control Center Lüneburg.
- In the Lüneburg Heath, open fires are prohibited from March 1 to October 31 to reduce the risk of forest fires.
- Last year, around 224 forest fires were detected in Lower Saxony, with about half occurring in the highly endangered heath region.
- Rain cannot be retained in the sandy heath soil, which, combined with high temperatures, foehn winds, and low humidity, can significantly increase the Forest Fire Risk.
