The smell of smoke flooded the entire west of the Czech Republic. It comes from a fire in Czech Switzerland
Strong winds and an extensive fire that spread from the Czech Switzerland National Park to nearby Hřensko na Děčínsk, where about 50 people had to be evacuated from the right bank of Kamenice on Tuesday morning, caused the smell of smoke in practically all corners of the west of the Czech Republic.
A German children’s camp was evacuated from Ferdinand, its participants were taken by bus to the border, where colleagues from Germany took them over.
⚠️ 1/2 Since this morning, we have been recording the number of calls reporting a strong smell of smoke in the Liberec Region, Pardubice Region, Prague, etc. ⁰Due to the weather conditions, smoke from the fire in the Czech Switzerland National Park can be smelled tens of kilometers away.
— Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic (@hasici_cr) July 26, 2022
Due to the growing fire, the firefighters had to withdraw from the village of Mezná, where there were several houses. Regional fire department spokesman Milan Rudolf told ČTK today. Smoke and smoke from a large-scale fire spread in a belt almost across the entire republic.
“At night, about 50 people were evacuated in Hřensk from the right bank of Kamenice to the state border. Most of them were the owners of the buildings,” said the spokesperson.
According to him, some residents left in their own cars, others took the firemen to Děčín, where they found temporary accommodation. Firefighters evacuated up to 50 people from the camp, it was one bus, he added.
Overnight, it spread to the village of Mezná, which was evacuated by firefighters already on Monday. At night, according to Rudolf, the fire hit several houses in Mezní, and the firemen had to withdraw from the village.
“It didn’t work. It just didn’t work. We all had to withdraw from Mezná at night,” the firefighters from Varnsdorf, who intervened in the village, said on Facebook.
According to the spokesman, fire brigade units from other regions are coming to the fire.
“At 7:00 a.m., a survey of the fire station and a redistribution of units, including reinforcements from the surrounding regions, will be carried out and intensive firefighting will begin, including with the help of aerial equipment,” the Ústí Region’s firefighters said on Twitter after 06:30 a.m.
We evacuated the summer children’s camp Ferdinand. The children and their companions were transported to the state border and handed over to their German colleagues. At 7:00 a.m., a survey of the fire scene and redistribution of units, including reinforcements from the surrounding regions, will be carried out, and intensive firefighting will begin, including with the help of aerial equipment.
— HZS of the Ústí Region (@HzsUlk) July 26, 2022
Firefighters in the Czech Republic have been registering a large number of calls reporting the smell of smoke or smoke since the morning. They recorded them, for example, in Prague or in the Pardubice region.
Citizens are asked to consider in this particular case whether to call the emergency lines if they do not see, for example, flames. Because of the weather conditions, smoke can be smelled tens of kilometers away. They advise people to limit ventilation.
Firefighters intervene in Czech Switzerland
Video: Aktu.cz
The operation center in Pardubice records a large number of calls, for example, where people report gray smoke. At the same time, the region is approximately 130 kilometers away from the site of the fire.
“There is no fire in our region. The smoke spreads in a belt almost across the entire republic and is apparently from Hřensko. We recommend closing windows and doors,” they said on Twitter.
Since early Tuesday morning, firefighters at the operation and information center in Pardubice have been receiving calls that they have gray smoke in their village and that there is probably a fire somewhere. It doesn’t burn in our region. The smoke spreads in a belt almost across the entire republic and is apparently from Hřensko. We recommend closing the windows and doors. pic.twitter.com/wsKGueIxlH
— HZS Pardubice Region (@HZS_Pardubice) July 26, 2022
According to meteorologists, the smoke reaches central and eastern Bohemia and the northern part of the Highlands. This is due to a change in the wind behind the front to a northwesterly flow.
“Smoke is also very visible on the station network of ceilometers. These instruments use laser beams to scan the column of atmosphere vertically upwards and thus detect, for example, clouds, precipitation, fog – as well as smoke and dust particles in greater concentration,” the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said on Facebook this morning.
An extensive fire in the České Švýcarsko National Park broke out on Sunday morning and on Monday evening approached Hřensk.
Already on Monday, firefighters from the upper part of Hřensko evacuated ten tourists from four houses. Firefighting continued through the night. The fire service was suspended overnight.
Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan (STAN) told Czech Television on Monday evening that he is negotiating with Slovakia for help.
According to the Austrian, the Slovaks could send their fire fighting equipment to the site. At the same time, the minister said that today he will probably go to a meeting of the crisis staff, where international aid will be discussed.