Erfurt (dpa/th) – Persistent drought increases the risk of forest fires in Thuringia. According to the state agency Thüringenforst, the second highest forest fire danger level 4 prevailed on Monday in 20 of 32 designated regions of the Free State. Forestry offices have the opportunity to block particularly endangered places such as public barbecue areas. According to the forest fire risk index of the German Weather Service, danger level 4 should be reached in almost all of Thuringia on Tuesday and even danger level 5 in certain areas on Wednesday.