Germany, 18. April 2003
Total Easter Fire Ban in Germany
18 April 2003
Extreme Spring Drought in Germany: Easter Fire Ban Imposed
Lack of rainfall in large parts of Germany have resulted in extreme wildfire danger throughout the country. This will affect the traditional Easter Fires that are set on Easter Saturday and Sunday. A total Easter fire ban has been imposed in Brandenburg State and other regions of Germany. In NW Germany increased aerial fire surveillance has been activated. This measure follws a severe forest fire incident during which one person was killed on 15 April 2003 near Nottuln (Coesfeld County).
A large number of Easter fires were depicted by the BIRD’s mid-infrared channel (3.8µm) yesterday evening (Thursday, 17 April 2003, 22:35 h local time). This georeferenced image covering Berlin and surrounding Brandenburg State show the fire sites marked in blue. Source: German Aerospace Center (DLR) http://spacesensors.dlr.de/SE/bird/index.html
Fire Danger Map for 18 April 2002
For increased forest fire danger in Germany see fire danger index of the German Weather Service (DWD):
For details and updates see: http://www.agrowetter.de/Agrarwetter/waldix.htm
Easter fire celebrated in the dunes of Spiekeroog Island. Source: GFMC archive
Easter fire website (in German):
http://www.pracht-gohlau.de/osterfeuer.htm
Easter fire ban in the media (in German):
http://www.netzeitung.de/servlets/page?section=2&item=235866