Prague and part of central Bohemia were covered in smoke, originating from a fire in Bohemian Switzerland
/VIDEO, PHOTOGALLERY/ The strong smell of smoke, as if from burnt wood, and the foggy haze over the buildings attracted the attention of many residents of Prague and Kutnohorsk, Kolín and Nymburk on the morning of July 26. The cause is an extensive fire in Bohemian Switzerland.
Smoke covered part of central Bohemia and Prague.
| Video: Diary/Michal Bílek
“There is a smell of smoke and burning all over Prague,” the Prague fire department said on Twitter. “We recommend reducing ventilation,” they added.
“This is a smell from a big fire in the National Park České Švýcarsko, i.e. from Hřensk. A cloud actually arrived over Nymburk from there. We have reports about the smell from a number of places,” commented Zdeněk Vocásek, the mayor of the volunteer fire department in Nymburk, on Tuesday around five in the morning.
The information was confirmed by Roman Zima, the commander of Nymburk’s professional firefighters. “Due to the current climatic conditions, the smoke from the fire near Hřensko reached us and the neighboring regions. We ask citizens that in this specific case, if you do not see other signs of burning, for example flames, consider whether to call the fire department’s emergency lines,” said Zima.
Firefighters from Central Bohemia also went to the fire near Hřensk, the forest was also burning in Kutnohorsk
During the early hours of the morning, social networks were full of reactions, with people sharing the latest insights. “Týnec nad Labem as well, I’ve been walking since 3 and finding out what’s burning where… Kutná Hora also stinks of smoke… Poděbrady too… Volárná has a terrible stench since 3:00 and now you can’t even see Osek. Terrible smoke…” These and many other reactions you can read about the topic on Facebook.
“I am a Kolíňák working in Poděbrady. During night shifts, we were surprised by the extreme smell of smoke and a strange fog over the entire horizon. I preferred to call home to my family to see if everything was okay,” Josef, a thirty-six-year-old engineer, told the editors.
At 8 o’clock in the morning, Cologne City Radio reported on the causes of the smoke and also explained the compulsion of the firemen so that people, if they do not see other signs of a fire such as fire, should think twice about calling the emergency line. Of course, the call only applies to today’s emergency situation.