THW Plauen in large effort: Together against the risk of forest fire!

THW Plauen in large effort: Together against the risk of forest fire!

In the early morning hours of July 7, 2025, seven volunteers of the THW local association Plauen started their trip to the forest fire damage area in Gohrischheide, near Zeithain. The use is in the middle of a regional forest fire risk, which mobilizes numerous emergency services from Saxony. According to leading city.de , THW units from various cities such as Aue, Freiberg and Zittau are used to support the fire brigade.

After your arrival in a collection room in Dresden, the team is moved to the damage area. The operations are planned up to and including Wednesday, with the tasks in water promotion and the storage of extinguishing water. These coordinated activities impressively show how volunteer help is organized and effective in the event of a disaster.

The current state of extinguishing work

The Dresden fire brigade has been supporting emergency services and fire trucks since July 2, which operate in the layer system with twelve-hour services. So far, around 665 emergency services from various organizations have been active to control the flames. Reports by mdr.de are affected that around 2,100 hectares are affected, which represents a larger area than in the annual average Germany.

In order to further intensify the extinguishing measures, the emergency services rely on modern tactics. A new extinguishing strategy provides for the fire to be burned in a controlled manner in order to then target the flames. This method is intended to prevent freathed material from continuing to catch fire.

restrictions in traffic and support from the air

The location on site also brings some logistical challenges. Numerous roads were closed because of the forest fire, including the B169 between Neudorf and the Heidehäuser junction and the S89 between Heidehäuser and Nieska. Affected residents can find out more on 03521 725 7251, which can be reached daily between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

In addition to the soil forces, technical aids are also used. The Bundeswehr extinguishing helicopters support the measures from the air, while water cannons from the state police and unmanned a deletion robot are also used for fire fighting. A district administrator Ralf Hänsel (CDU) has already drawn teachings from the forest fire of 2022, and the technical equipment and the infrastructure have been improved in order to be better prepared in the future.

Nevertheless, there are political voices that indicate the dangerous consequences of budget cuts for the fire brigades. The free voters warn that such cuts could endanger public general interest and security.

The situation in Gohrischheide remains tense, but the committed emergency services do their best to tame the flames and bring security again as quickly as possible.