Wildfire Risk Too High: Several Festivals Cancel Fireworks

Wildfire risk has forced several festivals in southwestern Germany to cancel their fireworks displays. The ongoing drought has created high to very high wildfire danger, prompting the cancellations.

The Seenachtsfest in Schluchsee, a popular event expected to draw thousands, will not feature its "particularly popular high fireworks display over the lake." The Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbH cited persistent dryness and the associated wildfire risk as the reasons.

Similarly, the city of Murrhardt canceled the fireworks for its Sommernachtsfest at Waldsee. The Rems-Murr district has recently experienced multiple fires in meadows and wooded areas, leading both the district forestry office and the fire department to deem the risk of a larger fire too great.

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The particularly popular high fireworks display over the lake must unfortunately be canceled this year.

Neighboring Switzerland is also implementing restrictions due to dryness. Basel initially banned private fireworks for the Swiss National Day on August 1st. Now, official fireworks displays over the Rhine and on Bruderholz have also been prohibited. Many onlookers from Germany typically watch these pyrotechnic shows.

In Freiburg im Breisgau, the first day of the Schlossberg Festival was entirely canceled due to the dry conditions. The city is currently under the highest wildfire danger alert, obligating authorities to cancel the event, according to organizers. The festival is scheduled to proceed as planned on Saturday.

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Both the district forestry office and the fire department see the risk for a potential area or forest fire as too great.