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Together against the flames: New program strengthens forest fire protection in Germany
Countries are calling for investment in civil protection and infrastructure as cooperative forest firefighting advances in Europe.
Together against the flames: New program strengthens forest fire protection in Germany
In a time of increasing forest fire risks, cross-border cooperation in fighting forest fires is becoming increasingly important. Loud MDR Many states are demanding more support from the federal government to improve infrastructure, shelter planning and digital networking. In particular, the Interior Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Tamara Zieschang, is committed to investments in civil protection from the planned special infrastructure fund.
As part of this initiative, it is proposed to install emergency generators during construction work at schools to ensure that schools and gymnasiums can serve as focal points in the event of a disaster. Zieschang emphasizes that the state has increased allocations to municipalities, with some municipalities signaling a need for additional funding due to their financial situation. A report will analyze the adequacy of state funding for municipalities, with results that may be available next year.
EU pilot program for fighting forest fires
At the same time, the EU has launched a pilot program to combat forest fires. In this context, 16 fire brigade forces from Baden-Württemberg will take part in order to strengthen civil protection across countries. The Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Thomas Strobl emphasizes the importance of this cooperation. The program, which takes place in Greece, is intended to teach firefighters the theory and practice of fighting forest fires within eight weeks.
The German team, stationed in the Peloponnese from July 15 to 31, 2022, has also received support from firefighters from Bulgaria, Finland, France, Romania and Norway. The emergency services come from various regions, including the Schwarzwald-Baar district, Freiburg, Böblingen, Ludwigsburg and the Zollernalb district. The initiative is a response to the devastating forest fires that hit Greece in the summer of 2021, when around 65 forest fires were recorded per day amid extremely high temperatures.
In summary, it can be said that current steps to improve civil protection and cross-border cooperation in the area of forest fire fighting are crucial to meeting the challenges of climate change and the increasing risk of fire. Given the alarming developments in the past, it is essential that both the federal and state governments jointly provide the necessary resources to ensure the safety of the population.