Pirna/Schmilka (dpa/sn) - The situation with the forest fires in Saxon Switzerland is still tense. In view of the rising temperatures, it is suspected that fire sites will flare up again, as the spokesman for the Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains district office, Thomas Kunz, said on Sunday morning. Although there was "no major fire" during the night, it is assumed that the fires will become more active again during the course of the day. After the fire-fighting helicopters had finished their work on Saturday evening, drones were used for surveillance.
According to Kunz, as expected, the fire has now penetrated the humus layer of the earth to a depth of half a meter and is spreading there. Therefore, attempts are now being made to erect barriers on forest paths, for example. "To do this, the ground is torn open and a mixture of water and a so-called wetting agent is introduced." The resulting foam can penetrate the soil better. This is said to create a bar to contain the fire and deprive it of nourishment.
According to Kunz, Sachsenforst employees are in the process of pulling apart dead wood from adjacent forest areas. In addition, rangers from the Saxon Switzerland National Park are on site to support emergency services with their local knowledge. "In the morning, 360 people were deployed, and the number is to be increased to 500 during the course of the day." You are dealing with a very dynamic fire situation, which makes the situation so complicated. 14 firefighting helicopters and two helicopters to investigate the fires are present on site.
The fire broke out in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Czech Republic last weekend and spread to the Saxon Switzerland National Park on Monday. An area of around 150 hectares is now affected. Disaster alert applies in Bad Schandau and Sebnitz. On the Czech side, the extent of the fire is even greater: there the flames are raging over an area of around 1000 hectares, 750 firefighters from all over the Czech Republic are on site.
