How to support Czech firefighters and help restore Czech Switzerland

As the blaze in the Czech Switzerland National Park rages for the fourth day, local and international efforts are being directed at containing and extinguishing the record-breaking forest fire. Seeing photos of worn-out firefighters who bravely and relentlessly face the raging fire, many feel the urge to help.

In recent days, the first fundraisers to support firefighters have been established to support both firefighters, the national park, and the municipalities impacted by the disaster. We've put together some tips for how to contribute help.

The Facebook page of the Czech Switzerland National Park posts regularly updated requests for help as well as lists of items for donations. 

Currently, a food drive is underway for firefighters. In Děčín, people can bring drinks and food to designated places for the firefighters working in the park. Water, fruit or energy bars, and hard salami are requested.

Other requested essentials include first aid items such as eye drops, eye flushing water, plasters, and bandages for firefighters.

Donations can be delivered to Děčín at the contact point of the national park administration (Teplická 424/69), Red Cross branch (Teplická 149/173), and to the volunteer center Slunečnice (Hudečkova 664/1).

Officials, however, warn strongly warn against going to the scene to watch the fire or using drones to take photos. The Czech Republic's fire department tweeted about a man who traveled 300 kilometers to watch the blaze, while the Ministry of Interior has strongly advised staying away from the scene under any circumstances.

Roads should be kept open for, firefighters, and other intervening units without added traffic complications.

České Švýcarsko National Park and Czech senator Zbyněk Linhart have launched a fundraiser on the Donio portal to help the residents of the villages affected by the fire in the Czech Switzerland National Park as well as municipalities. As of July 27, 1 p.m., more than CZK 4.6 million have been collected. 

In addition, for those who want to support the restoration of the Czech Switzerland National Park a public collection has been established by the Partnership Foundation, the largest ecological foundation in Czechia, on the Darujme.cz platform.

The foundation will donate selected funds directly to the management of the national park. These monies will be used to restore natural resources and nesting sites for birds, and for rebuilding tourist infrastructure, and routes as well as any of the iconic hiking trail signs in the area.

The Ministry of the Environment has announced that it will be designating CZK 10 million for fuel for fire-fighting interventions by air support from the Czech army, Slovakia, Poland, and Italy. The ministry is preparing to announce a program to repair the infrastructure of the affected municipalities as well.

The money will be used for the restoration of water and sewage systems, roads, and sidewalks, as well as for the stabilization of landslides. Funds in the amount of CZK 100 million are being set aside for this.

Those affected by the fire can also apply for extraordinary financial assistance in the amount of CZK 69,300 per person at the employment offices, said Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka said on Tuesday.