Chancellor Merz thanks helpers in the wildfire area in NRW

Chancellor in NRW Wildfire Area: First Booing – Then Clear Words from Merz

Following the wildfire in the Hürtgenwald area of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Chancellor thanked rescue workers for their efforts. Residents say his visit came too late. But emergency responders praise the Chancellor's timing.

A friendly reception it was not: During his visit to the wildfire area in Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia, Chancellor Friedrich Merz was greeted by residents with boos and whistles. Signs read: "The forest burns, and Friedrich sleeps." Some farmers disrupted the Chancellor's press conference by honking their horns.

It was the Chancellor's first public appearance since July 29.

Merz: "I speak with those who help"

So did the visit come too late? ARD reporter Pierre Dyckmans described the situation as follows: While some residents called the visit, two days after the fire was extinguished, a "PR stunt," emergency responders welcomed the timing. A visit from Merz during the firefighting efforts would have caused more disruption than good.

Merz described it as a deliberate decision: his goal had been to allow the emergency services to do their job undisturbed, the Chancellor said. He had kept himself continuously informed and asked the local authorities what they needed and what had to be made available to them in order to extinguish the fire quickly.

Regarding the protesting residents, Merz said he was not impressed by "those who stand around shouting." "I speak with those who help."

District Administrator: Merz Should Not Come During the Fire

The district administrator of the Düren district, Ralf Nolten, emphasized that he had asked the Federal Chancellor not to come during the fire, but afterwards.

A member of the Hürtgenwald volunteer fire brigade expressed outrage to WDR about the booing and whistling. "Those who shout and whistle should channel that negative energy into something positive and become a member of the fire brigade or the THW," the firefighter said.

At the fire station in Hürtgenwald, Merz thanked the helpers who had extinguished the largest wildfire in NRW history. At its peak, around 2,000 people had to evacuate their homes because the flames had come too close to the town. Firefighting operations concluded two days ago. Emergency services are now assessing the damage in Hürtgenwald. Ammunition left in the ground since World War II has been found there – a factor that had complicated the firefighting efforts.

"This Is Climate Change"

With regard to the wildfire, Merz drew a connection to climate change. Germany must expect the number of major disaster events to increase: "This is climate change." The government would "do everything to push back against climate change. But we must also learn to live with climate change." However, Merz did not announce any specific measures.

Merz did not comment on the debate over enshrining protection against climate change and heat in the Basic Law. That proposal had recently come from the SPD and is set to be discussed within the black-red governing coalition next week.