Over 90 % of forest fires in Saxony are caused by people. The cause is rarely deliberate arson, but rather carelessly lit and inadequately extinguished campfires. In 2019, 17 out of 19 forest fires in the Saxon Switzerland National Park were caused by illegal campfires.

The largest forest fire in Saxon Switzerland to date destroyed 105 hectares of forest in the national park in August 2022. Over 1000 hectares burned in the neighbouring Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Here, too, an illegal campfire could not be ruled out as the cause.

Since then, the Saxon Switzerland National Park and Forestry Administration has increasingly focussed on preventative measures that experts have identified in the forest fire protection concept for the Saxon Switzerland National Park region (PDF in German). These measures support the earlier detection of forest fires, enable the fire brigades to fight fires more quickly and better protect settlements and houses.

You too can help to prevent forest fires in the national park and all forests in Saxon Switzerland. Together with the fire brigades of the national park region, who have already had to extinguish numerous forest fires in the dangerous rocky terrain, we appeal to all visitors:

Observe the smoking and fire ban and also refrain from using camping cookers. Please speak to people who light fires in the forest and appeal to them to extinguish the fire immediately - especially the embers in the ground under the fire. Call the emergency number 112 so that the fire brigade can extinguish the fire with the national park rangers.