A year ago the world was still looking at Greece.

Huge areas that burned and could only be fought because fire brigades from several European countries sent delegations to the affected areas.

These units, consisting of experienced firefighters, were equipped with sufficient equipment and vehicles that were able to prove themselves in difficult terrain and under the most adverse conditions.

Forces were also sent from Hesse.

And at the time it was said that it was not just about urgently needed support in an extreme situation, but that you had also used this experience for your own purposes - to learn from it.

It was foreseeable that, in view of climate change and ever-drier forests, there would also be large-scale wildfires in local regions.

Two years ago, the Hessian fire brigades deployed a total of 102 times to the local forests.

And this year, too, they are preparing for long periods in which forest fires are part of everyday life.

The forces are specifically trained in how to extinguish forest fires.

Experienced firefighters repeatedly point out that there is a difference between extinguishing a fire outdoors on a surface and flames inside a building.

It is said that what counts is know-how.

Volunteers are important

Hesse is well prepared to fight fires in densely wooded areas.

The topic has also been politically promoted for years.

At the state level, it has been recognized that one should not save in civil protection.

The budget for the Hessian fire brigades is higher than ever this year at 43 million euros - which shows how much the Ministry of the Interior has recognized the importance of adequately equipping the fire brigades, which also includes special forest fire extinguishing sets that are assigned to the civil protection officers distributed are now available throughout the state.

What is still missing, however, is appropriate protective equipment tailored to forest fires.

This is a requirement raised primarily by the professional fire brigade.

But what must always be considered, despite all professionalism, is voluntary fire protection.

Without these forces, the so-called extreme weather conditions such as forest fires, heavy rain and the associated flooding would not be manageable.

More than 70,000 voluntary emergency services are represented in the 2,430 fire brigades in Hesse.

Keeping that number will be the next challenge.