Forest fire near Bad Schwalbach: 20,000 square meters of land destroyed, mop-up operations ongoing

District fire chief Michael Ehresmann described the situation on the ground as extremely complex. The mop-up operations in particular are extremely complex and at the same time dangerous, because the burnt trees partially topple over and we have to protect ourselves from being struck by the trees, Ehresmann said. The crews are securing the fire site because more trunks could fall at any time and injure responders.

The fire service is deployed in force, according to its own statements. In addition to multiple fire engines, specialized units from the Taunusstein region have also been dispatched to the scene. Out-of-area support has also been requested in order to extinguish the hotspots in the deeply dried-out soil layer in a targeted manner. The water supply is provided via tankers and mobile hose lines, as hydrants are lacking in the forest area.

Cause and warnings

Residents of the surrounding towns noticed a smell of burning on Tuesday and alerted the emergency dispatch center. Images of rising plumes of smoke that were visible from far away spread on social media. Police closed several forest tracks so that emergency vehicles could approach without obstruction and walkers could not enter the fire site.

According to current findings, the fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon. The exact cause is still unclear and is the subject of investigations. Flying sparks, for example from hot exhaust gases or sparks, is being examined as one possible explanation, because the region has been suffering from prolonged drought for weeks and the forest floor is extremely flammable.

The incident command called on the public to refrain from entering forest areas around Bad Schwalbach and Taunusstein for the time being. Lighting fires in the open and smoking in the forests is also strictly prohibited in the current situation. The authorities are also warning against underestimating remaining hotspots, as these can smolder undetected for days.

Protection of the responders

The drought of recent weeks has increased the forest fire danger across Hesse. Meteorologists have repeatedly warned of a high to very high forest fire danger at levels four and five. Municipalities are therefore increasingly checking barbecue areas, campfire sites and forest paths to minimize fire risks.

Protecting the responders is the fire service's top priority. Responders wear special protective helmets and cut-resistant protective clothing to avoid being injured by falling branches and trunks. Observers also report considerable logistical effort, because equipment and water must continually be brought to the hard-to-reach fire sites.

Outlook on further firefighting operations

The mop-up operations are expected to continue for several more days, according to the fire service's assessment. As long as hotspots smolder in the ground, there is a risk of re-ignition. Incident command plans to water affected areas in a targeted manner and remove toppled trees using heavy equipment in order to fully expose the seats of the fire.

The extent of the damage to flora and fauna has likewise not yet been quantified. Forestry experts, however, expect that the affected forest area will need to be reforested. The responsible forestry authorities will examine the condition of the soil and the remaining trees over the coming weeks.

Given the ongoing drought, the emergency services expect an elevated forest fire danger across the entire region. The public is asked to report any signs of smoke immediately on the emergency number 112, so that fires can be detected and combated at an early stage.