The Association of German Cities and Municipalities (DStGB) is demanding ongoing financial support from the federal and state governments to assist local communities in addressing the escalating risk of wildfires. DStGB President Ralph Spiegler informed the “Rheinische Post” that the threat posed by wildfires is intensifying across several regions, a visible consequence of human-induced climate change.
Spiegler emphasized that this new reality presents local fire departments with significant additional challenges, necessitating a fundamental change in how fire prevention is carried out. This change must involve two key areas: adequately equipping fire services with the necessary technical resources for wildfire suppression, and undertaking the gradual restructuring of forests.
He further argued that the financial burden of these tasks exceeds what local municipalities can manage. Therefore, he stated that the federal government and the states must provide permanent financial aid, as adapting to climate change is a responsibility shared across the entire state. Spiegler noted that the existing constitutional framework for collaborative effort-a shared task of climate protection and adaptation-could provide the necessary foundation for such cooperation.
According to Spiegler, strategic foresight and proactive investments are ultimately more sustainable and cost-effective than reacting only after a forest has already caught fire. These incidents not only pose difficult-to-control hazards to firefighters and residents but also cause considerable damage to vegetation.
