The forest fire which broke out on 24 July in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (northern Czechia) continues to burn and it has spread further to the Saxony Switzerland National Park (central-eastern Germany).

According to reports from the German Joint Information and Situation Centre (GMLZ) and the Czech Fire Rescue Service (HZSCR), the forest fire has affected an area of 1,000 hectares. In Czechia, residents from Hrensko, Mezná, Mezní Louka and Vysoká Lípa have been evacauted, as a number of houses have been damaged.

Fire fighting operations have been hampered by unfavorable weather conditions (including high winds) and difficult terrain, which makes it difficult for operators to reach the affected area. 

On 26 July, Poland and Slovakia each deployed one helicopter to support operations, while Italy mobilised two Canadair from the rescEU reserve. One liaison officer from the ERCC is scheduled to arrive on 27 July in Prague and the EU's Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service was activated on 26 July (EMSR610).

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (JRC-EFFIS), the fire danger on 27-28 July is mostly moderate over the affected area.

UPDATE:

• Since 24 July, a forest fire has been burning in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (northern Czechia) and in the Saxony Switzerland National Park (central-eastern Germany), as fire fighting operations are ongoing. 
• According to the Czech Fire Rescue Service (HZSCR), up to 74 firefighters sustained injuries, mainly minor. In Czechia, the area affected by the fire has been reduced from 1,060 to less than 500 ha, as of 4 August. Several other outbreaks have been discovered and are being extinguished. Over 1,000 firefighters, more than 200 vehicles, 5 helicopters, and two fire-fighting aircraft from the rescEU reserve in Sweden have been deployed. 
• In Germany, the extent of the forest fire is about 150 ha and extinguishing work is hindered by the difficult terrain, as reported by the German Joint Information and Situation Centre (GMLZ). 
• The EU's Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service (EMSR610) has produced four maps of the area in Czechia and Germany affected by the fire.
• According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the fire risk is expected to be from high to very high on 4-5 August over northern Czechia and central-eastern Germany.