Forest fire in Saxon Switzerland

The cause of the forest fire has not yet been determined. Around 115 emergency services, consisting of 13 surrounding local fire brigades, are currently trying to extinguish the fire. Meanwhile, the authorities were looking for illegal fireplaces over the weekend. Several men were caught and are now being fined.

A fire broke out in Saxon Switzerland near the Bastei Bridge on Monday night. A spokesman for the rescue control center in Dresden said the fire was burning in rough terrain. The emergency call came in at 12:30 a.m. According to a report from the district office, around 115 emergency services from 13 surrounding local fire brigades are on site at the hour (1:30 p.m.) and are trying to get the fire under control. The entire site is still cordoned off. The extinguishing work is carried out on an extremely steep area of ​​land with a height difference of around 190 meters both from the bastion and from the Elbe side. According to the reporter, the extinguishing work will continue throughout the day.

As the district office announced, about 2,500 square meters are affected, in which the weirs are still extinguishing embers in the ground. The water supply came from the Elbe and with tanker circulation from the bastion. The Bastei Bridge and the Felsenburg Neurathen are closed until further notice due to the extinguishing work.

According to a police spokesman, two people were injured in the operation. The Elbe cycle path below the bastion is currently closed. There is still no reliable information on the size of the affected area and the cause of the fire. Two fire investigators are expected to begin work once the fire is under control, the spokesman said.