More than just forest fire danger!
Great damage caused by fire
A forest fire broke out at the beginning of April in Brusio GR in the southern Graubünden valley of Poschiavo, in the area of the world-famous railroad viaduct. The damage is extensive: around half a square kilometer of protective forest has been destroyed, and the effort required to extinguish the fire with a large number of emergency crews and four helicopters was enormous. The fire has now been extinguished. Rail services have resumed and the road to the village of Viano is open again. The authorities are now planning measures on the burnt-out areas to ensure that the forest as a whole continues to provide protection against natural hazards, particularly rockfall.
Human behavior is crucial
What many people don't know: Forest fires are man-made in the vast majority of cases. Natural causes such as lightning strikes are extremely rare. As a rule, it is carelessness. As in Brusio, when garbage was burned near the forest and sparks jumped over to the forest. In view of the increasingly frequent drought in the forests, cautious behavior is crucial. Therefore, always check www.waldbrandgefahr.ch for the current forest fire level and be sure to act in accordance with the measures listed there.
It is very dry on the southern side of the Alps right now and it is important that we are careful with outdoor fires. Or simply leave it alone.
Help out in the Soazza GR project
You can experience the consequences of a forest fire in the Soazza GR project in Misox. The Bergwaldprojekt has been working there for over 20 years and is also helping to deal with the devastating forest fire of 2016. After the fire, access paths had to be created and trees planted over a large area, and fences had to be erected to protect against browsing by wild animals. We will be there again at the beginning of May to maintain the young forest areas.