Forest paths in the Tennenloher Forest are open again - but extreme caution is advised!

Forest paths in the Tennenloher Forest are open again - but extreme caution is advised!

There is great relief in the Tennenloher Forest: the forest paths that were closed due to a devastating forest fire have been reopened. But the warnings from the district office are clear: forest visitors should act with extreme caution because the risk of further fires remains high. A contradiction to this relief is the ban on entry in certain areas, which has been in effect since April 2014 and remains in force. As the Nuremberg News report, the flare-up in the risk of forest fires is primarily due to the temperatures and the current lack of water.

The devastating fire that broke out on April 30, 2025 covered an area of ​​​​around 40,000 square meters. Now, more than three weeks later, extinguishing measures like this are still underway Bavarian Radio reported. Smoldering embers spread over a wide area continue to make operations difficult for the fire brigade. Particularly explosive: The Tennenloher Forest is located on a former military training area, which means that ammunition may be hidden in the ground.

Intensive firefighting work and danger underground

At the beginning of May, a disaster was declared by the Erlangen-Höchstadt district office in order to request national fire brigade forces and special fire engines. At times, more than 200 police, fire, technical relief and rescue services were deployed to fight the flames and monitor the embers. The situation continues to be monitored closely with the help of thermal imaging cameras and drones. Around ten emergency services are still active, working with 60 circular sprinklers.

The focus is particularly on investigations into the cause of the fire: a commission called “Lunte” was set up to clarify possible intentional arson. Looking back at the forest fire statistics, 1,059 forest fires were registered in Germany in 2023, which means a decrease of half compared to 2022. However, the potential danger remains. The proportion of fires caused by negligence, including careless behavior by forest visitors, is worryingly high and has been identified by experts as a serious problem.

Precautionary measures and appeal to forest visitors

The authorities urgently appeal to all forest visitors to adhere to the existing rules. From March 1st to October 31st there is a smoking ban and lighting fires in and around the forest is strictly prohibited. Burnt cigarettes should never be thrown out of the car and parking on dry grass is also dangerous as hot catalytic converters can start fires. Vehicles may only be parked on gravel parking areas. Despite the released forests, increased vigilance is required to avoid further damage to land and to protect the valuable forest stocks.

As the Federal Environment Agency notes, the increasing risk of wildfires in the coming years is a serious challenge, not only affecting the stability and vitality of forest ecosystems, but also posing a threat to human health. The precautionary measures mentioned are therefore not only sensible, but necessary to ensure ecological safety and protect our forests.