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Bastei near Rathen in Saxony (2020): Was it arson?
Photo: Robert Michael / dpa
After a devastating fire in Saxon Switzerland, the police began investigations into arson.
This was decided after an investigation into the cause of the fire, the authority said.
A fire broke out during the night near the world-famous Bastei Bridge in the spa town of Rathen.
About 2500 square meters should be affected, as announced by the responsible district office in Pirna.
Two firefighters were injured while putting out the fire.
According to the district office, 13 local fire brigades from the surrounding area are in action, a total of 115 emergency services.
They are fighting the flames "on the extremely steep terrain with a height difference of around 190 meters both from the bastion and from the Elbe side".
Most of the extinguishing work could only be carried out with safety ropes.
"I thank the comrades for their determined and consistent commitment," said District Administrator Michael Geisler, who got an idea of the situation on site in the morning.
"The fire departments worked together in an exemplary manner and were thus able to effectively contain the spread of the fire under these extreme conditions."
The police only took action against wild campers at the weekend who had illegally set up fireplaces in the national park.
The authorities initiated administrative offense proceedings against a total of nine people.
Poorly or incorrectly extinguished fires are considered a common cause of forest fires, the police said.
mxw
