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It was his first public engagement after the summer break: Two days after the complete extinguishing of the forest fire in the Hürtgen Forest, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) visited the affected area today to thank the emergency services.
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Merz was met with boos and whistles. Numerous onlookers gathered on the village square where Merz arrived. At times the chancellor was barely audible, as his words were drowned out.
A member of the Hürtgenwald volunteer fire brigade expressed anger at the loud reactions. “Those who are shouting and whistling should turn that negative energy into positive energy and become members of the fire brigade or of the THW,” said the firefighter.
Merz said he had deliberately chosen to travel to Hürtgenwald-Gey only today. He had wanted to ensure that the emergency crews could work undisturbed. At the same time, he said, he had been continuously briefed on the situation and had asked the local authorities what support was needed to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible.
Merz was thus responding to criticism that he had arrived at the scene too late. “I am not impressed by those who stand there shouting,” Merz said. “I talk to the people who are not shouting, but who are working. I talk to those who help and to those who act in the interests of the community.”
The chancellor described the large-scale forest fire in Hürtgenwald and the High Fens as a consequence of climate change. However, he did not spell out which concrete measures should be derived from this. He said he had come to Gey above all to thank the emergency services for their efforts and commitment.
Earlier, during a visit to the forest, Merz had seen the scale of the damage for himself.
Largest forest fire in North Rhine-Westphalia’s history
The blaze broke out during the recent heatwave and spread rapidly because of the dry soils and woodland. According to North Rhine-Westphalia’s agriculture ministry, around 300 to 400 hectares of forest – equivalent to roughly 420 to 560 football pitches – were damaged or destroyed. The authorities described the fire as the largest forest fire in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia.
At the height of the operation, around 1,400 emergency personnel and about ten firefighting helicopters were deployed. Four armoured vehicles were also used to cut firebreaks and support the firefighting efforts.
The nearby village of Gey had to be evacuated at times. Around 1,800 people were affected. After about a week, the fire was finally extinguished completely.
Criticism of Merz’s late visit
Politically, the visit has sparked debate. While the forest fire was still raging, no member of the federal government was on the ground. Merz was on his summer holiday at the time, but said he was being regularly briefed on the situation.
By contrast, North Rhine-Westphalia’s state premier Hendrik Wüst (CDU) interrupted his holiday and visited the affected area. Opposition politicians, especially from the Greens, criticised Merz’s decision not to travel to the region earlier.
The federal government defended the chancellor, pointing out that he had been kept informed of developments during his holiday and could have intervened if needed.
The issue is likely to remain relevant beyond the current forest fire. At next week’s cabinet retreat, topics will include heat protection, climate adaptation and how to deal with increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
The cabinet retreat at Neuhardenberg Castle is scheduled for Tuesday, 25 August, on the federal government’s official calendar.
