Major fire in Augsburg: Fire brigade fights flames in the forest!

Major fire in Augsburg: Fire brigade fights flames in the forest!

On May 1, 2025, at around 1:30 p.m., a forest fire broke out in Siebenbrunn Haunstetter, Augsburg, Bavaria. The Augsburg professional fire department and the Haunstetten volunteer fire department were immediately alerted to fight the fire. The affected fire area covered around 2,500 m², with shrub and grassy areas on the forest floor being affected. Thanks to efficient measures, the fire was quickly brought under control.

In order to cover the enormous water demand, a shuttle service was set up with two large vehicles, including a tank fire engine and a swap loader vehicle with a capacity of 7,000 liters of water. Firefighters used D and C pipes to fight the fire, while the forest floor around the scene was watered with hydroshields to prevent the fire from spreading. The emergency services were also supported by the drone group from the Lechhausen Volunteer Fire Department, which contributed to assessing the situation.

Technical aids and follow-up inspection

To analyze the situation more precisely, a thermal imaging camera was used to make temperature differences visible and to find embers. This technology promoted rapid containment of the fire and improved the safety of emergency responders. After extinguishing the fire, the Haunstetten volunteer fire department carried out a comprehensive fire inspection in the evening to ensure that no new fires could break out.

In view of the current challenges in fighting fires in forests and fields, the safety of the emergency services is of the highest priority. The German Fire Brigade Association (DFV) has therefore updated the specialist recommendation “Safety and Tactics in Forest Fire Operations”. This revised recommendation takes into account the constant changes in dealing with vegetation fires and is a valuable resource for fire departments in Germany. The updated technical recommendation covers the following points: general information on vegetation, terrain and meteorology, the deployment of the fire brigade and safety rules in order to create the best possible conditions during operations.

Long-term challenges

In recent years, Germany has struggled with an increase in vegetation fires, which are becoming more frequent due to warm and dry conditions. A closer look at this problem shows that many fire brigade operations can last weeks. In order to meet the challenges in fighting vegetation fires, the DFV has also prioritized the use of aircraft in the technical recommendations, as more and more federal states are providing suitable helicopters and equipment for fire fighting.

The new updates to personal protective equipment and wildfire tanker tactics provide a solid foundation for future operations. In addition, the aim is to bring all relevant stakeholders together in order to sustainably improve the conditions for firefighting. Particular difficulties arise in areas contaminated with ammunition, where extensive security precautions are necessary.

For detailed information about the updated technical recommendations, interested readers can visit the pages of the German Fire Brigade Association: the technical recommendation for forest fire operations and the technical recommendation for vegetation fires.