Sabine Lackner, the president of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), has issued a warning about increasing wildfire risks due to climate change. She noted that extreme weather events-such as severe droughts and heavy flooding-are on the rise.
According to Lackner, the weakening of the jet stream contributes significantly to this danger. When the jet stream stalls, certain weather patterns become trapped in place, which rapidly heightens the risk of forest fires. The jet stream is normally driven by temperature differences between the equator and the poles; as these differences diminish, the jet stream weakens overall.
Lackner added that the THW is seeing a marked increase in wildfire deployments. She specified that the agency’s expertise includes creating fire breaks-clearing paths to prevent the fire from spreading-and transporting water over long distances. These tasks have escalated, with the THW responding to every major incident in recent years.
A particular hazard exists on former or still existing military training grounds. The Chief of the THW pointed out that risks increase in areas where munitions are stored. Because the precise locations of the stored ammunition are unknown, operating crews cannot approach the source of the fire safely. Furthermore, the development of harmful chemical pollutants is becoming a growing concern.
In previous years, fires had occurred on former military training sites, specifically in Jüterbog (Brandenburg) and Gohrischheide (Saxony), as well as on the grounds of Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 91 in Meppen (Lower Saxony).
