In Saxon Switzerland, around one hectare of forest burned down near Hohnstein on Tuesday. The fire on the right bank of the Elbe near Waitzdorf was reported at around 11:40 a.m. The flames were under control around 5:20 p.m., a police spokesman told MDR SACHSEN.
The fire investigator assumes negligent arson. He ruled out spontaneous combustion at that point. The police have filed a complaint for negligent arson and are investigating in this direction.
Either someone threw away a butt or lit an illegal campfire.
Dresden police on the possible cause of the fire
Difficult supply of extinguishing water
The mayor of Hohnstein, Daniel Brade (Independent Voters’ Association), described the fire area to MDR SACHSEN as a “rocky area in the national park in a gorge that is difficult to access”. 70 firefighters were deployed to combat the flames. “It took until about 3 p.m. to get the water service up,” Brade said. The comrades had to carry tubes on foot through the forest to get to the gorge on the Obere Ochel in the core zone of the national park. Neighboring communities helped out with tank fire engines.
The state-owned company Dingeforst is also at the scene of the fire and has a special fire surveillance drone soaring above the trees, the police spokesman explained.