Rising forest fire in Bavaria: Early warning flights are supposed to prevent fires

Forest fires have long been considered an immediate threat to the Climate change – drought, rising temperatures and Extreme weather events Increase the fire risk worldwide. How transferable are these developments to Bavaria? A current evaluation of the air rescue relay in Bavaria and new measures by the government districts provide information about the situation in the Free State.

Forest fire risk in Bavaria: striking weather conditions slowed down the operations in 2024

Last year, the air observers of the Bavarian air rescue relay were on a total of 106 missions on the order of the government districts. This is significantly less than in usual years, in which « 500, 600 or sometimes even 1000 flights » take place, as a speaker explains on request.

The reason: « Last year we had an extreme weather that has never existed in Bavaria, » he explains. After several hot days, there were regularly in the summer of 2024 Violent rainfall and floods – Flights for forest fire monitoring were less often required.

Instead, the volunteer pilots of the air rescue relay in Bavaria, together with trained foresters and firefighters, often support the soil forces in flood operations, especially in Swabia and Upper Bavaria.

Avoid surface fire: New flight observations in several government districts

In 2025 more missions are likely to be imminent: the risk of forest fire in Bavaria is currently increasing again – so have several district governments Air observation flights arranged. The government of Middle Franconia, for example, had surveillance flights started for Thursday to Sunday. The machines should also take off in Lower Franconia, Upper Franconia, Upper Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate. The aim is to recognize possible fires at an early stage and to guide the fire brigade to the fire site in good time.

The German Weather Service (DWD) predicts a lot of sun and high temperatures for the coming days – conditions that may move many people to excursions. So that there are no forest fires on May hikes or grill trips, the authorities appeal: smoking in the forest is prohibited, as well as open fire or grilling in forested areas.

Forests in Bavaria: regional differences in the risk of forest fire

Most flights to Waldbrand observation In Bavaria, 2024 were registered in the Upper Palatinate (49), followed by Upper Bavaria (15). The situation in Swabia (2) and Middle Franconia (7) was much calmer. According to the expert, the Upper Palatinate is generally due to its extensive forest areas more at risk of forest fire. Lower Franconia also has an increased risk.

For Upper Bavaria, the spokesman for the air rescue relay explained a special feature: « The risk grows there earlier when the sun shines in higher areas after the snow melting. » The first forest fires of the year were recorded there at the end of March and early April, especially in Rosenheim and Miesbach the risk situation was high.

Waldbrand hazard index WBI: an important early warning system

A central instrument for evaluating the risk of forest fire is the forest fire hazard index (WBI) of the German Weather Service (DWD). The index measures the meteorological potential for the development of forest fires and classifies the danger on a scale from 1 (very low danger) to 5 (very high danger).

Weather data such as temperature, humidity and precipitation flow into the calculation. In dry phases in particular, the WBI offers valuable guidance for forest authorities, emergency services and the population.

Risk of forest fire: Human action remains the main risk

Despite natural influences, people remain the Main cause of forest fires in Bavaria. According to the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (StMelf), around 34 percent of the fires were demonstrably due to negligent or intentional behavior by 2020. Only about 4 percent are triggered by natural causes such as lightning strikes. With the remaining 62 percent, the cause is unknown – however, experts assume that mostly human misconduct also plays a role here.

In order to contain the current risk of forest fire in Germany in the coming weeks, as in the past year would be Regular precipitation valuable. They would not only stabilize the water balance of the forests, but also reduce the number of observation flights necessary.