German Firefighters Association warns against relying on harsher arson penalties

Karl-Heinz Banse, president of the German Firefighters Association, has expressed skepticism regarding political calls for harsher penalties for arson in response to recent forest fires. While acknowledging that increased punishments might serve as a deterrent, Banse stated they are “not a panacea,” noting the difficulty of definitively determining the causes of large-scale fires.

Banse also questioned the practicality of forest access bans during high-risk periods, arguing that forests cannot be easily fenced off or patrolled. Instead, he advocated for increased preventive measures, including public awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of campfires, illegal grilling, and discarded cigarettes.

To improve wildfire management, Banse recommended enhancing firefighter training, increasing cooperation with Southern European fire services to learn advanced extinguishing techniques, and expanding aerial firefighting capabilities in Germany.

Supporting this view, Sven Rebehn of the German Association of Judges noted that existing criminal laws already provide sufficient legal scope to punish severe cases of arson appropriately, making further legislative tightening unnecessary.