Forest fire danger levels

The Landkreis Börde is divided into an area north of the federal highway 2 with forest fire danger class A (generally very high forest fire danger and danger of large fires) and southern part in danger class C (generally low forest fire danger), which is also reflected in the forest fire danger levels.

Forest fires can severely disrupt or completely destroy the complicated forest ecosystem for many years, leading not only to ecological but also to severe economic damage. Therefore, forest fire protection requires active participation.

Forest fire protection includes preventive measures to prevent the development and spread of forest fires. These include, in particular, the creation of wound strips, the definition of forest fire danger levels, the monitoring of forests in the event of fire danger, and the creation of plow strips during grain harvesting.

Forest fire danger levels indicate the current forest fire danger. They serve as a basis for initiating appropriate protective measures.

The forest fire danger levels are calculated by the German Weather Service in the form of the forest fire danger index (WBI). The calculation takes into account fire intensity, heat of combustion, mass of combustible biomaterial and ground fire running speed.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the responsible district forest fire protection officer determines the forest fire danger level in the period between March 1 and September 30 of the year on the basis of the data from the German Meteorological Service and announces it in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Fire Protection Ordinance.