Heat wave in Lower Saxony: danger of forest fires at its highest!

Heat wave in Lower Saxony: danger of forest fires at its highest!

The risk of forest fires in Lower Saxony has reached worrying proportions in recent days. Today, July 2, 2025, temperatures in the region will reach record-breaking temperatures of over 38 degrees Celsius. Loud NDR The forest fire danger index of the German Weather Service (DWD) shows the highest danger level in three regions, Faßberg, Wittingen-Vorhop and Celle. The second highest danger level had to be determined in 25 other regions, so forest visitors should take the warnings seriously.

Places such as Freiburg/Elbe, Rosengarten-Klecken and Wendisch Evern are particularly affected, but even larger cities such as Hanover and Uelzen are not immune to the dangers of a forest fire. The Lower Saxony State Forests urge the public to strictly adhere to an absolute ban on smoking and a ban on open fires until October 31st. This is particularly important because human error is the leading cause of wildfires.

Experiences from the past

There was recently a fire in the Goldenstedter Moor in the Vechta district, which was probably caused by a discarded cigarette. A forest fire broke out in the Harz on June 22nd, affecting around three hectares of forest. It was discovered that several fires had already raged in the region in April. The forest fire center in Lüneburg has been in operation almost continuously since March, demonstrating the highest number of operational days in its history.

The development of the risk of forest fires in the context of climate change is also frightening. Weather extremes, like those in the report by Forest knowledge are increasingly leading to droughts and heat waves, which further increases the risk of forest fires. An increasing number of tropical nights and consecutive summer days are expected, keeping the situation still tense.

Prevention and measures

The Lower Saxony State Forests have already started modernizing the observation forest fire monitoring system (AWFS). With 20 powerful surveillance cameras and a new server that offers faster evaluation options, monitoring is being improved on around 440,000 hectares of forest area in north-east Lower Saxony. Such measures are necessary to detect fires early and react accordingly. If the warning levels are high, the headquarters is staffed by specially trained foresters who ensure the safety of the forests.

In order to minimize the risk of fires, it is important to follow a few simple rules of conduct: no smoking in the forest, no throwing cigarette butts out of the car and only use designated barbecue and campfire areas. In addition, a distance of at least 50 meters from the forest must be maintained in order not to take unnecessary risks.

There are also 1,920 children's and youth fire departments in Lower Saxony, which make an important contribution to fire protection. Their operations will continue to be of great importance in the coming months, as the risk of forest fires remains high. A change in the weather from Wednesday afternoon may bring some relief, but until then it's time to stay vigilant!