Large parts of Germany are experiencing during the summer off 2015 a long period of high temperatures and only local precipitation due to thunderstorms. The effect is a raised level of fire probability. During the weekend (12.07.2015) a wildfire broke out northwest of Speyer in Rhineland Palatinate. The fire department was in action until the early hours of Monday. In the fire about 15 hectares of forest and grassland were affected.
 

Fire weather index 13.07.2015. European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Joint Research Centre. http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/applications/current-situation/

According to local sources the fire originated from bales of straw on a meadow. By the time the fire department was alerted, the meadow already burnt with gusty winds driving the flames to the neighboring forest. At peak times were 22 fire services with nearly 400 emergency services and more than 80 vehicles were in action extinguishing the fire. More than 10km of hoses were in use move water to the burning areas. By the morning of the 14th the fire was contained. No one was injured. So far no monetary figures are available on the damages to the meadow and forest or the actual costs of the fire suppression operation. For more information see news article and video (in German).