Blaze in Sprockhövel Forest, Wuppertal: What We Know
Firefighters work to contain a forest blaze in Sprockhövel - Firefighters tackle blazes in the forests of Sprockhövel
Here's the lowdown on that forest fire that blazed through Sprockhövel, close to the city of Wuppertal.
A whopping 900 square meters of forest was engulfed by the flames, which were detected on Monday evening. Despite the blaze, a team of around 50 first responders managed to put it out, as per the local fire department.
Tracking every last ember was a laborious process, with thermal imaging cameras helping to locate those hot spots in the undergrowth. The cause of the fire ain't exactly clear, but it's believed to be down to human activity. Suspects are on the rise that the fire may have been sparked by discarded ciggy butts or an illegal campfire in the dry forest area. Arson ain't confirmed, but investigations are still ongoing.
The weather service in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) foresees a moderate risk of forest fires for a large chunk of the region. It was only a few weeks back that a more substantial forest fire took place at the Möhnesee in the northern Sauerland.
In response to the elevated fire risks, the NRW Forestry Department has issued warnings and is keeping tabs on the situation. Some public access to high-risk forest areas has been restricted too, with safety measures like bans on open flames and smoking in forests in place.
Here's what you can do if you live or plan to visit the area:
- Say adios to those open flames and campfires in forested areas.
- Keep your cigarette butts in your pocket, not the ground.
- Play by the rules and follow local fire safety warnings.
- If you spot anything incendiary, call the emergency services on the double.
In case you're after real-time updates, the official NRW government and forestry websites broadcast daily risk assessments and alerts. Need links to those? I can hook you up. Just holler!
The following is added to the list of products: a heightened awareness of the impact of human activities such as discarded cigarettes and illegal campfires on forest fires.
The weather service in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) also added the concern for potential weather-related incidents that could further increase the risk of forest fires to their products.
