The risk of forest fire increases: ban on fire and smoking in the Spittal district!

The risk of forest fire increases: ban on fire and smoking in the Spittal district!

Reißeck, Österreich - The district administration of Spittal an der Drau issued a ban on open fire and smoking in the forest as well as on adjacent areas on June 23, 2025. This ban now applies to the entire district and is a reaction to the increased risk of forest fire in the region, which is favored by several factors.

Already today two forest fires were registered in Reisseck and Winklern, which illustrate the dangerousness of the current situation. The fire brigades had to intervene quickly to extinguish smaller fires, which could prevent worse. The Spittal volunteer fire brigade therefore appeals to the population of being particularly mindful because the combination of sun, dryness and wind is a dangerous mixture.

forbidden actions

The current ban includes inflaming fire in the forest and grilling and smoking in the affected areas. The non -compliance with this ban can not only lead to fines, but also endanger people, animals and nature. The situation in the Spittal district reflects the growing problem of forest fires in the entire region.

climatic challenges and forest fires in Germany

The increasing occurrence of forest fires in Germany is also caused by climate change. According to tagesschau.de, drought, heat and long dry periods lead to a load on the forests. Regions such as Brandenburg and Baden-Württemberg are particularly affected, where numerous forest fires have been registered in recent years, which together destroyed a large area.

In 2019, for example, around 2700 hectares of forest burned in Germany, which corresponds to around 3781 soccer fields. Human action plays a crucial role in this: In fact, 96 percent of forest fires in Germany are caused by negligence or arson.

The Federal Environment Agency reports that the number of forest fires decreased in total between 1991 and 2017. However, the corresponding forest fire areas increased in 2018 and 2019 due to extreme weather conditions. These developments show that a comprehensive strategy for forest fire prevention and fighting is essential to avoid future disasters.

prevention measures and innovative technologies

The improvement in forest fire prevention includes both infrastructural measures and the use of modern technologies. For example, an action concept for forest and fire brigade was developed as part of the Waldbrand-Klima resilience research project. Old fire guard towers were replaced by digital sensors that can transmit information to forest fire centers. However, the success of these measures not only depends on the responsible authorities, but also requires responsible behavior of the population.

forest fires not only damage the ecosystem, but also releases additional greenhouse gases such as CO2, which further increases the problem of climate change. In view of these dangers, both foresters and firefighters, as well as the general public, must be integrated into a common system of prevention and avoidance.