Thuringia's fire brigades were heavily challenged last year: an increase in major fires

Major fires placed particular demands on the fire brigades in Thuringia last year. The number of such operations rose sharply compared to the previous year: from 154 to 225. This is evident from the fire and disaster control report that Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) presented in Mühlhausen. However, the total number of missions fell from 36,442 to 35,900.

“I would like to pay my respects for the fact that you sometimes risk your personal health to help others,” emphasized Maier, referring to the efforts of the country’s largely volunteer firefighters.

Overall, firefighters had to respond to fires more often. The number of these missions rose by 9.6 percent to 5,349. The fire brigades were confronted with vegetation fires much more often: 868 times there were fires on grass and arable land (2024: 583). In 433 cases (2024: 310) the alarm was raised due to forest and tree fires.

Rare false alarm

Maier attributed the increase to climate change with particularly dry and hot summers. Vegetation fires could be challenging simply because of their sheer extent. He referred to the Saalfelder Höhe. Last year there was the largest forest fire in Thuringia since the current forest fire statistics began. Firefighters were busy fighting the fire for almost two weeks.

“It is pleasing that we have had fewer false alarms,” said Maier. The number fell for the first time since 2021 - from 6,519 in 2024 to 6,080 last year. Above all, the number of cases in which people deliberately faked emergencies and provoked unnecessary missions fell: to 150 after 292 in 2024.

More emergency rescues

The comrades went out 4,080 times, for example to look for missing people or to rescue people from elevators and other emergencies. The previous year there were 3,969 times. In addition, the fire brigades counted 24,471 assistance missions, in which they primarily supported the rescue service.

Around 32,700 people volunteered in the fire department. The number of full-time employees rose from 1,088 to 1,198. The country spent a total of 50.3 million euros on civil protection last year.