Forest fire fighting

Forest and wildfires pose unique challenges for fire departments. Dry vegetation, high temperatures, wind, and hard-to-reach terrain require specialized equipment, training, and operational tactics.
Large forest and wildland fires dominated the summer of 2026 in Europe. Eastern Germany is prone to forest fires. In 2025, more than 2,000 hectares of forest burned in Saxony alone.

At FLORIAN 2026, this topic will have its own dedicated area: The WALDBRAND CAMP is all about fighting forest and wildland fires.

Spanning more than 120 square meters, this themed activity area is deliberately not designed as a traditional trade show booth. Vehicles, specialized equipment, personal protective equipment, and an authentically designed area invite visitors to learn about the technology, share experiences, and engage in conversation.

Visitors can explore various solutions for wildland fire operations—from all-terrain vehicles and transport options to tools, personal protective equipment, and other specialized technology.
The focus is not solely on the technology, but above all on the question: How does wildland firefighting work in practice—and what can fire departments learn from one another?

Firefighters from several countries will share their real-world experiences. A special feature of the WALDBRAND CAMP will therefore be the accompanying program of lectures and discussions held directly on the exhibition floor.
Firefighters and other experts will provide insights into their work, share stories from the field, and present projects and international collaborations.

Firefighters will discuss their collaboration with Croatian fire departments and share experiences from the partnership in Istria. The Großschönau Volunteer Fire Department will provide insights into its long-standing cross-border cooperation with the fire department in Varnsdorf, Czech Republic. From Hungary, the Palkonya-Újpetre Fire Department will be present to showcase its wildland fire unit, its equipment, and its operational methods.

Additional guests, topics, and experience reports will round out the program. Over the course of the three-day event, this will create a meeting place where diverse concepts and experiences from Germany and other European countries come together.

The WALDBRAND CAMP is initiated and organized by Blaulicht magazine, which has been intensively involved in forest and vegetation firefighting for several years and supports fire departments during operations, training projects, and international collaborations.

Above all, the WALDBRAND CAMP is intended to be one thing: a place to see, touch, ask questions, and exchange ideas. Practitioners will meet practitioners, international experiences will meet regional fire departments, and new technology will meet insights gained from real-world operations.

WALDBRAND CAMP @ FLORIAN – October 8–10, 2026, in Dresden.