DistantNews
Support us
Red Farmers support firefighting efforts
🇩🇪 Germany /Disasters & Emergencies

Red Farmers support firefighting efforts

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The "Red Farmers" initiative connects farmers with firefighting services to provide rapid assistance during vegetation and smaller forest fires.
  • Founded after the 2021 Ahrtal flood disaster, the platform aims to coordinate farmers' resources like tractors and water tankers for efficient emergency response.
  • The initiative has expanded beyond its initial region and is gaining international interest, highlighting the growing need for agricultural support in firefighting.

A unique initiative called "Red Farmers" is bridging the gap between agricultural resources and firefighting needs, particularly for vegetation and smaller forest fires. The platform connects farmers willing to lend their equipment and vehicles with fire departments requiring rapid assistance.

A general help from farmers for the fire department has always existed. Much was, however, rather spontaneous, regional and partly uncoordinated.

— Thomas KnechtExplaining the need for a coordinated farmer-firefighter support system.

The "Red Farmers" concept was born from the experiences of farmer Thomas Knecht and vintner Ingo Pfalzgraf following the devastating Ahrtal flood disaster in 2021. They were inspired by a similar idea from the Main-Spessart district fire brigade association. Knecht explained that while farmers have always offered general help to firefighters, these efforts were often spontaneous, regional, and uncoordinated.

The platform, which launched in a trial version in 2022, allows farmers to register their available resources, including tractors, trucks with water tankers, and even access to wells. This digital "dating platform" ensures that the data remains current. Knecht, who is also a volunteer firefighter, noted the critical need for such a service, especially in rural areas where fires can spread rapidly across fields of high grain, often faster than fire departments can respond.

We do not want to replace a fire department or THW. It is much more about fast and efficient help on site.

— Thomas KnechtClarifying the role of Red Farmers in emergency situations.

Initially active in Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria, "Red Farmers" has since expanded to Schleswig-Holstein, parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Lower Saxony. The organization has also seen significant interest from other German states, as well as from Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. The largest wildfire in North Rhine-Westphalia's history recently saw the Düren district and Hürtgenwald municipality utilize the "Red Farmers" portal to register aid offers. Currently, around 10,000 cubic meters of transport volume for extinguishing water are registered on the platform across Germany. Knecht emphasized that the goal is not to replace official emergency services but to provide quick and efficient on-site support.

The Red Farmers only work if a strong agriculture also has a future.

— Thomas KnechtHighlighting the interdependence of agriculture and the initiative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog