A fire breaks out in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The flames are spreading at a rapid pace, affected residents have to get to safety. Emergency services also evacuate a children’s holiday camp. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rakusan is looking after help from abroad.
In the Czech Republic, the situation with the forest fire in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park near the border with Saxony is coming to a head dramatically. Numerous residents of the municipality of Hrensko, which is considered the gateway to the national park, had to leave their homes. This was announced by a spokesman for the Czech fire brigade. All buildings on the right bank of the Kamnitz, which flows into the Elbe there, are affected.
Several buildings caught fire in the town of Mezna. The extinguishing work was resumed in the morning after a night-time interruption. The emergency services also evacuated a children’s holiday camp with around 100 participants from Germany. The children and their carers were handed over to German helpers at the border.
More than 150 firefighters are on site to fight the blaze. They are supported by police and army helicopters. The forest fire broke out on Sunday in an area originally measuring around seven hectares. He is now threatening the Prebischtor with the excursion restaurant “Falcon’s Nest”.
The rock formation is considered the landmark of the national park. The smoke could still be smelled in Prague, around 90 kilometers away, and beyond. Many concerned citizens called the fire department. The authorities appealed to the public not to block the emergency lines. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan announced that he would seek help from abroad. The Bohemian Switzerland National Park borders directly on the Saxon Switzerland on the German side.