As a result of the reunification they had quit their jobs. The democratically elected new fire bosses lacked the experience in fighting large forest fires. The inadequate technical equipment of the rural voluntary fire brigades worsened the situation. Figure 2 a. Average size per forest fire in Germany, 1946-1999. Number of forest fires and area burned in Germany, 1977-1999.
Fire causes Only two percent of all fires are caused by lightning.
Negligence had a higher percentage in West Germany, decreasing from 50 percent to 30 percent between 1961 to 1990. Figures 5 a and 5 b show the monthly distribution of fires between 1995 and 1999 in Germany. The average number and the average burned area in this period indicates two peaks in April and August. Causes of fire in relation the number of fires in Germany, 1977-1999 Figure 4b. Causes of fire in relation the area burned in Germany, 1977-1999.