Forest fire in the Harz
Fire on the Brocken – rain supports firefighting
Charred tree trunks on the Brocken. photo
© Matthias Bein/dpa
The Harz is still burning, but the fire is under control. However, ground forces and fire-fighting helicopters are still in great demand.
The persistent rain provides relief when fighting the major fire on the Brocken in the Harz Mountains. “The fire is under control and is no longer spreading,” said a spokesman for the Harz district. The rain helped fight the fire. However, the onset of fog led to delays in extinguishing operations from the air. 440 emergency services have been deployed since morning.
As on Wednesday, ground forces are to be deployed again on Thursday in the fire area, which is sometimes difficult to access, the spokesman continued. A large number of fire-fighting helicopters are supposed to keep the fires in check from the air. The two Italian fire-fighting planes, on the other hand, were released in the morning and “farewell with a regional drink,” said the spokesman.
The fire was discovered on Saturday on a hiking trail popular with tourists near the Goethebahnhof vantage point. The cause of the fire is still unclear.