• Smoking is prohibited from March 1 to October 31
• Do not light any fires in or near the forest, including barbecues. Keep at least 100 meters away from the forest(Bavarian Forest Act)
• Do not throw burning cigarettes out of the car
• Do not park vehicles on easily flammable surfaces because of the hot vehicle catalytic converters
• Cars, motorcycles and agricultural vehicles must not be parked on meadows and forest paths

Air monitoring continues in Middle Franconia

The German Weather Service is still forecasting very high temperatures and no widespread rain. As a result, there is a high to very high risk of forest fires in large parts of Central Franconia. Particularly at risk are sparse stands of pine trees and forests in urban areas that are heavily frequented by the population. The government of Middle Franconia has therefore once again ordered aerial observation as a preventive forest fire fighting measure for the administrative district of Middle Franconia. This is being carried out in coordination with the regional contact person for forest fire fighting at the Ansbach Office for Food, Agriculture and Forestry. Aerial observation will take place on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6.

The aerial observation flights will take place in the afternoon hours. This is when the risk of forest fires is particularly high due to rising temperatures and people's leisure activities. The flights will be carried out by volunteer pilots from the Middle Franconia Air Rescue Squadron. In addition to the pilots, specially trained aerial observers from the fire department and forestry authorities are also on board. They monitor the relevant forest areas from the air and search specifically for potential fire hazards. If a fire is discovered, the fire department is alerted directly from the air by radio and directed to the site of the fire.

A fixed route is flown. It leads from Erlangen-Dechsendorf via Schnaittach, Hersbruck and Allersberg to Pleinfeld. From there it flies via Abenberg, Nuremberg-Moorenbrunn, Nuremberg-Buchenbühl and Erlangen-Tennenlohe, with a loop via Emskirchen, Wilhermsdorf, Heilsbronn and Windsbach back to the starting point. In this way, the particularly endangered forest areas (for example the Sebalder and Lorenzer Reichswald near Nuremberg and also western Middle Franconia) can be easily viewed from the air and checked for possible smoke development.

Do you see a forest fire? Report it immediately by calling the emergency number 112