Alpine resorts in Switzerland are exploring innovative ways to utilize their snowmaking infrastructure to combat the growing threat of summer forest fires. As glaciers retreat and snowfall becomes less reliable due to climate change, areas like Adelboden-Lenk are looking to adapt their winter equipment for a new purpose.
The Adelboden-Lenk ski area, which relies heavily on artificial snow for its 200 kilometers of slopes, has an extensive network of underground water pipes, pumps, and water reservoirs. These systems, designed to feed 210 snow cannons and 50 snow lances, are being considered by firefighters as a potential resource for wildfire suppression.
Jürg Klopfenstein, who oversees the resort's snowmaking operations, explained that while the snow cannons themselves might be primarily useful for watering fields or protecting nearby infrastructure, the broader pipe and reservoir system could be invaluable. "We can help firefighters with our infrastructure," Klopfenstein stated. "Firefighters can use our infrastructure, and helicopters can refill their tanks using our water reservoirs."
During fire events, the system could be employed to create wet buffer zones, slowing the spread of flames and providing critical time for emergency services and aerial support to arrive. The reservoirs, which collect rainfall and melting snow, are already in place and integral to the resort's snowmaking process.
While Switzerland has not experienced large-scale fires this year, unlike some neighboring countries, authorities assess the wildfire risk as high across the nation due to drought conditions. The Bern region, where Adelboden is located, is among those areas at elevated risk.
Stefan Buchs, operations manager at Adelboden-Lenk, noted that the specific vegetation and soil humidity levels in the Alps differ from those in southern Europe, where widespread, intense fires are more common. However, he acknowledged that "widespread wildfires are a likely scenario" and that "humidity is a real problem. It gets really dry even in the spring. Not just in the summer."
Adelboden Mayor Willy Schranz emphasized the need for preparedness, stating, "we must be prepared, because I am sure it won’t be the last summer like this one."
However, climate change experts caution that such adaptations offer only temporary solutions. Nathan Solothurnmann, a climate change expert with Greenpeace, commented that while the watering system "might for sure help for a while," the fundamental changes driven by climate change are more severe. He added that in most of Switzerland, the necessary underground pipe infrastructure for firefighting is not present.