Forest fire hazard (Germany)
The forest fire risk in Germany was determined up to the end of 2013 using various forest fire risk indices or forest fire risk classes and some of them were published as a forest fire warning level. Since 2014, a uniform warning level model has been in place for all federal states, which was adopted in autumn 2013 and provides for a nationwide representation of the forest fire risk with levels 1–5. This representation corresponds to the international standard and the German Weather Service also uses levels 1–5 on its website to represent the risk of forest fires. The alert levels are mainly the prevention of forest fires . The procedure and classification varies from region to region and is usually regulated in forest fire protection ordinances. The current risk level can be found out from the local fire brigade or the German Weather Service .
Forest fire hazard classes
The division of forest areas into forest hazard classes takes place predominantly in the eastern federal states, which have a high proportion of pine trees . These classes reflect the different ignitability and combustibility of different types of wood. Pine forests are more at risk from forest fires than deciduous forests . Usually it is divided into three classes A, B and C, with class A corresponding to the highest level. The classification is based on the current forest cover and the statistical evaluation of previous fires. It applies to certain regions (e.g. forest offices or counties). The forest authorities carry out regular updates; in the state of Brandenburg, this is done every five years.
| Classes | description |
|---|---|
| A 1 | Areas with a very high risk of forest fires |
| A. | Areas with a high risk of forest fires |
| B. | Areas with medium risk of forest fire |
| C. | Areas with low forest fire risk |
The EU Commission also classified Europe's forests in different levels of danger (A / B / C). For example, the state of Brandenburg in Germany is at the highest level and has therefore been assigned to the same group as southern France , Corsica and southern Spain .
Calculation of forest fire risk indices
In addition to the medium-term forest fire risk classes, the prevailing weather conditions are particularly decisive for the current forest fire risk. With the help of climate data, daily valid indices can be calculated.
The German Weather Service currently calculates the risk of forest fires using the forest fire risk index WBI, previously using the M-68.
Forest fire risk index WBI
The forest fire risk index WBI is a further development of the M-68. The new forest fire risk index is based on a so-called fire intensity equation. Not only those are taken into account
- measured and forecast weather data, but also
- the speed of the fire (depending on the structure of the forest in terms of soil, litter and crown area)
Forest fire risk index M-68
The M-68 model was developed in the GDR and, due to its reliability, was adopted by the German Weather Service as a forest fire risk index for a long time.
Meteorological input variables are:
- Noon values of the air temperature
- Noon values of the relative humidity
- Noon values of the wind speed
- 24-hour total precipitation
- morning snow depth (only in spring)
These values are associated with data on the forest fire hazard class and the state of vegetation. While dry forest floor cover increases the risk of fire, green vegetation reduces the risk.
As a result, locally related hazard levels are calculated. In the original procedure, these went from level 0 to 4, but have now been adapted to international conditions and set to 1 to 5.
| current WBI levels |
original M-68 model |
description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | very little risk |
| 2 | 1 | low risk |
| 3 | 2 | medium danger |
| 4th | 3 | high risk |
| 5 | 4th | very high risk |
Forest fire warning level
On the basis of the forest fire risk indices, the responsible authorities announce forest fire warning levels if necessary. The announcement affects the vigilance of forest personnel. For example, as the warning level increases, forest fire services are deployed, the staffing of the fire watch towers are intensified and the forest fire control centers are activated. Regional forest areas from level 4 can also be closed to visitors.
| Levels (old federal states / new federal states since 2014) |
description | Levels (GDR / new federal states until 2014) |
description |
|---|---|---|---|
| step 1 | very little risk | - | no risk of forest fire |
| Level 2 | low risk | Level I. | Forest fire hazard |
| level 3 | medium danger | Stage II | increased risk of forest fires |
| Level 4 | high risk | Stage III | high risk of forest fire |
| Level 5 | very high risk | Stage IV | highest risk of forest fire |
Related topics
The counterpart for land fires in Germany is the grassland fire index (GLFI).
literature
- Hans-C. King: Forest fire protection. Compendium for forest and fire services . Edition Hazard Defense; Supplement (Volume 1). Fachverlag Grimm, Berlin 2007, 197 pages, ISBN 978-3-940286-01-7 or ISBN 3-940286-01-X
Web links
- Daily value of the forest fire risk index WBI - German Weather Service
- Forest fire hazard and forest fire (accessed March 30, 2020)
- Increasing climatic forest fire risk (accessed on March 30, 2020)
- Safety and tactics in the use of vegetation fire (accessed on July 18, 2020)
- Information on the forest fire hazard index WBI (accessed on March 30, 2020)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Joint decree of the Ministry of the Interior and for Municipalities and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection on the prevention and defense of forest fires (forest fire decree). (PDF) February 12, 2020, accessed April 24, 2020 .
- ↑ New forest fire warning levels for Saxony. A nationwide uniform forest fire risk index prevents irritation in the border area between federal states