Saxony arms itself in the fight against forest fires

The Minister of the Interior also referred to the forest fire protection concept that is to be implemented. Saxony had set up an expert commission following the devastating forest fires in the summer of 2022. In March last year, the experts presented more than 100 proposals - among other things, they recommended focusing forest conversion even more on mixed forests with deciduous trees. Deadwood should be removed if it blocks escape routes. A better water supply is also one of the recommendations.

Environment Minister Wolfram Günther pointed out that a lot has already been done. "We are promoting the construction of wells and cisterns for extinguishing water in municipalities and have purchased mobile cisterns and mobile extinguishing equipment," said the Green politician. There is also more staff for fire protection monitoring in the national park, for example. Furthermore, forest conversion to less fire-prone mixed forests is being driven forward. Forest paths should be managed in such a way that fire departments can use them more easily, said Günther. The focus must increasingly be on prevention. "Every fire that doesn't start in the first place doesn't have to be extinguished afterwards."