Sundern (dpa / lnw) - A major forest fire broke out near Sundern in the Sauerland region on Tuesday. A fire department spokesman said it was burning in an area of more than 30,000 square meters. That's roughly the size of four soccer fields. people were not in danger. The fire brigade was also fighting the flames on Tuesday afternoon.
The wind is constantly changing, the fire in the mixed forest keeps flaring up, said the fire department spokesman. "We can't really get to it." The police therefore supported the firefighters in the difficult-to-access area from the air with two fire-fighting helicopters. According to the fire brigade, the next building is a good distance away. It was initially unclear how the fire started.
There are a good 200 firefighters on duty, the spokesman said. "It's hot as hell. That's already on the substance for the emergency services." Temperatures of more than 36 degrees were expected in NRW on Tuesday. In addition to the heat, nature and people continue to struggle with drought. The forest fire risk index of the German weather service is in Sundern at the second highest level 4: "high risk". At least this warning level also applied in many regions in NRW on Tuesday, and the highest level even applied in the west.
