Forest fires in North Rhine -Westphalia: Human failure ensures flame inferno!

Forest fires in North Rhine -Westphalia: Human failure ensures flame inferno!

in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW has continued to struggle with smaller forest fires in the past few weeks. These fires are largely due to human action, be it through intentional acts or negligent behavior. The wdr reports that no clear causes could be determined for about half of the forest fires in 2023. Wood harvest.

The situation is worrying. The drought in recent years has led to the fire brigade in NRW modernized its equipment. More and more fire brigades are equipping off -road vehicles in order to be able to reach the hard -to -reach forest areas faster. If access with vehicles is not possible, use special backpacks with water to quickly combat fires. Fast action is crucial to prevent the fire from spreading.

technological support in fire fighting

To improve fire detection, an innovative system was installed in Wesel that uses cameras to monitor the forests on the Lower Rhine. These cameras are equipped with special software that automatically detects smoke and raises an alarm. In addition, the NRW Ministry of the Interior recently acquired so-called "Bambi Buckets", which can be attached to helicopters. These extinguishing containers each hold 820 liters of water and are attached to long ropes to support the fire brigade in the fire fighting from the air. The country invested a total of 880,000 euros in these modern extinguishing techniques.

An analysis of the risk of forest fires in NRW shows that between 1991 and 2023 average 61 forest fires per year were registered, which occurred an average of 18 hectares. The increase in the days with the highest danger levels is particularly striking. According to the Klimaatlas nrw rose with forest fire index level 4 and 5, which is all the more alarming because tighten. Compared to the climate control period from 1961 to 1990, the days with a lower risk of forest fires have decreased significantly.

global comparison perspective

In the global context, the situation in NRW is part of a major problem. In other regions of the world, such as the Amazonas, the increase in forest fires has also reached dramatic proportions. In 2023, the number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon region has reached its highest level for 20 years, which, according to the Greenpeace , can be attributed to human action. Drinking, reinforced by climate change and deforestation, people drive to clear areas for agriculture, which in turn heats up the fires.

The development in North Rhine-Westphalia shows that despite local efforts to prevent and combat forest fires, the dangers continue to increase. The support of technology and an increased awareness of a responsible handling of forests are essential to reduce the future fire risk and to protect nature.