WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ – A new attraction

April 7, 2025

With a new event format, INTERSCHUTZ 2026 in Hanover is placing the growing global challenge of forest and vegetation fires at the center of the trade fair. As part of WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ, experts from Germany and abroad will present innovative methods for combating and preventing vegetation fires throughout all six days of the trade fair (June 1-6, 2026). They will discuss strategies, approaches, and measures to detect fires at an early stage or, ideally, prevent them from occurring in the first place.

The partners of WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ are Bosch Building Technologies, the European Forest Institute (EFI), and @fire – Internationaler Katastrophenschutz Deutschland e.V.
At INTERSCHUTZ, various outdoor areas northeast of Hall 26 will be designated for partner presentations, open to both commercial and non-profit exhibitors as well as shared spaces.

“With WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ, we are creating excellent conditions for bringing together developers, suppliers, and emergency responders,” says Bernd Heinold, Head of INTERSCHUTZ at Deutsche Messe. “Exhibitors can gain first-hand insights into the challenges faced by emergency services, while responders can experience the latest technological advancements the industry has to offer.”

According to Heinold, the WildfireCamp in the outdoor area is designed to become “a small INTERSCHUTZ within INTERSCHUTZ”, enhancing the event’s program with an engaging and interactive component. “Climate change and its negative impacts are one of the key topics of our world’s leading trade fair, and vegetation fires are a crucial part of this discussion,” adds Heinold. “We are therefore grateful to have attracted such a strong and knowledgeable partner network for WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ.”

As one of the three partners, Bosch Building Technologies is presenting its Wildfire Detection service. This comprehensive solution enables early fire detection in forests, recreational areas, natural spaces near infrastructure, and outdoor areas close to buildings, while also ensuring the automated alerting of emergency services. “As a partner with many years of experience in networked fire protection solutions, we are fully leveraging the advantages of digitalization, connectivity, and artificial intelligence for our latest Wildfire Detection service,” says Thomas Reinicke, Head of the Solutions Business Life Safety division at Bosch Building Technologies. “We are proud to apply our fire protection expertise not only to safeguard people and property but also to contribute to the preservation of nature.”

Another partner is the European Forest Institute (EFI), which operates in 26 member countries with 116 participating organizations from 36 countries engaged in various scientific fields. “We want to use INTERSCHUTZ to put an even stronger focus on the issue of forest fires,” says Alexander Held from EFI. “It’s about knowledge transfer and networking, equipment, training, strategy, and tactics. We can also greatly benefit from the experience of our international guests.” According to Held, addressing the issue is not solely the responsibility of fire services – it begins with policy-making and extends to forest owners. “We need a coalition of the willing,” he emphasizes.

The third partner of the WildfireCamp is @fire. As an aid organization with a broad portfolio, they are firmly rooted in vegetation firefighting. The volunteers from @fire are not only involved in training firefighters to combat vegetation fires but are also available in emergencies. Both in Germany and worldwide, they provide specialized personnel, including firefighting teams, fire analysts, and experts for coordinating aerial firefighting operations. “We look forward to working with various partners at WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ to showcase innovative approaches and available solutions for integrated fire management,” says Dr. Martin Schmid from @fire. “For me, integrated fire management means considering prevention, deployment, and reforestation as interconnected elements. It also involves examining all aspects of these solutions, such as the proper tactical integration of firefighting operations, necessary logistics like water supply, the availability of specialized personnel, and suitable communication technology.”

Many interested parties have already confirmed their participation. INTERSCHUTZ Project Manager Bernd Heinold adds: “We are confident that WildfireCamp@INTERSCHUTZ will deliver an exciting program that not only presents solutions to current challenges but also inspires visitors.”

To read more news and articles see our latest issue here.