Firefighters are trying to contain the flames in the Saxon Switzerland National Park with foam, according to Thomas Kunz, district press spokesman.

Several helicopters and some 200 firefighters with 50 vehicles are deployed at the site, and another 150 will join in for the rest of the day. The Armed Forces are supporting the efforts, according to Kunz.

The fire originated a week ago in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Czech Republic and spread to German territory last Monday, damaging an area of 150 hectares.

pgh/arm/mem/ehl