Rain Lowers Fire Risk in North Rhine-Westphalia, Reviving Easter Bonfire Prospects

Recent rainfall has eased drought conditions, but local authorities remain cautious as safety concerns persist in some areas.

Rainfall over the weekend has reduced the forest fire risk in North Rhine-Westphalia, with most regions now at a low danger level, according to the Deutscher Wetterdienst.
Local officials and fire departments are reevaluating plans for Easter bonfires, though some events were already canceled due to earlier high fire risks.
No uniform regulations govern Easter bonfires in Germany, leaving local authorities to decide based on public safety and fire hazard assessments.
Environmental and animal rights groups have raised concerns about the tradition, citing risks to wildlife sheltering in woodpiles and broader ecological impacts.
In Thüringen, parts of the region remain dry, and fire services warn of potential safety hazards from improper bonfire practices, including excessive use of accelerants.