Schmilka (dpa/sn) - The federal government wants to contribute to the costs of using forest fires in Saxon Switzerland. Several Bundeswehr helicopters are also helping to extinguish the fire there. "In such a situation, costs have never been settled. And that's why I see no reason to deviate from this," said Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) on Monday during a visit to Schmilka. Not far from the German-Czech border town, forest fires have been raging in both Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland for a week.
According to Lambrecht, solidarity and support include talking about the distribution of costs in such a situation. She also spoke to the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer (CDU). "We agree that we will find a good solution," said Lambrecht. "The Bundeswehr is on duty when it is called." She was very impressed by the precision and quality of the firefighting operation. It is the Bundeswehr that shows in such situations that "we are there for each other and stand by each other". According to Lambrecht, the helicopters should initially be available until next Sunday.
Lambrecht "brought along" a rain shower punctually when she arrived, for which the emergency services have been waiting longingly for days. However, the rain was over after about 15 minutes. After that, the minister was briefed by the Operations Center and, together with Kretschmer and Bundeswehr General Carsten Breuer, undertook a reconnaissance flight over the fire area. Meanwhile, fire-fighting helicopters flew water from the Elbe into the fire area almost every minute.
"The fire tore a gaping wound here in the national park," said Kretschmer afterwards. Of course, nature will also heal this wound. "But we will have to deal with it for a long time." You will have to deal with the consequences of this for forest management, public education and preventive fire protection. The point is to position yourself more strongly in order to be able to act quickly in the event of a forest fire.
