After almost four weeks, Frankfurt residents are once again allowed to barbecue at the city's barbecue areas. On Wednesday, Tina Zapf-Rodríguez (Green Party), head of the climate and environment department, lifted the ban on open fires that had been in place since 9 July "until further notice". "We had weeks of extreme heat and drought in early summer – the ground was parched and the vegetation was like tinder," said the councillor, explaining the reason for the temporary moratorium: "In this situation, any spark could have caused a devastating fire."
The department head expressed her gratitude to those citizens who accepted the barbecue ban without complaint. The Parks Department did not have to penalise a significant number of offences during this period.
Danger eases, but vigilance remains essential
The heavy rainfall of recent weeks was decisive in the decision to relax the ban. They caused the German Weather Service's forest fire danger index (WBI) to drop from level 4 ("high danger") to lower values. The index is calculated daily on a scale of 1 to 5; at levels 4 or 5, local authorities can impose barbecue bans and strictly prohibit open fires in the forest.
Although barbecuing is now permitted again in designated areas, Zapf-Rodríguez urges caution: "Smoking and open fires remain strictly prohibited in the forest itself." Even with favourable weather conditions, a period of summer drought could quickly drive the index up again. The city therefore reserves the right to reimpose the ban at any time.
For the time being, barbecue enthusiasts can take their barbecue lighters out of the cupboard again – provided they keep an eye on the embers and avoid flying sparks. Because as changeable as the weather is, the responsibility of each individual to protect Frankfurt's green spaces from fire and environmental damage remains constant.
