The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg: The coming week will be so hot!

The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg: The coming week will be so hot!

Barnim, Deutschland - The risk of forest fire has now reached a worrying level in large parts of Brandenburg. In almost all regions, the second highest warning level 4 of the forest fire hazard index applies, which means that the risk of an outbreak is significantly increased. According to the FAZ , the districts of Barnim, Havelland, Oberhavel, Ostprignitz and Uckermark are particularly a warning level 3 affected, which represents the middle danger situation.

In the coming days, a dramatic weather conditions can be expected. The German Weather Service forecast temperatures of up to 23 degrees in the Uckermark on Monday and up to 29 degrees in the Elbe-Elster district. But that is only the beginning: from Tuesday it will be even hotter, with maximum values ​​of 31 to 35 degrees, and up to 39 degrees are even possible on Wednesday. These parameters mean that Brandenburg with its extensive pine forests, the low rainfall and the light sand soils have the highest forest fire hazard in Germany.

Current forest fire statistics

The fire brigades in Brandenburg reported 125 forest fires until the end of May 2023. The situation has increasingly intensified in recent years: the number of fires rose from 548 in 2021 to alarming 2,397 in 2022, which is the highest number in 30 years. The development, as reported in the ZDF , is particularly worrying, since in 2023 fires so far is close to the mean. The brewing area crosses 1240 hectares - also above the long -term average of 859 hectares.

The dangers are diverse: causes of fire include human misconduct, such as arson and throwing away burning cigarettes. Over 50% of the forest fires are caused by humans, which shows that education and prevention measures are urgently necessary. In a comprehensive approach, the DWD recommends increasing the hardwood content by mixed forests and the creation of forest fire bars.

precautions and preventive measures

The forest fire threat index is updated daily and evaluates the situation for the next four days using data from over 500 weather stations. Special prevention measures in endangered areas are essential for the safety of humans and nature. This includes creating protective strips and artificial extinguishing water withdrawals in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency.

In recent years alone, it has been shown that intensive public relations work in endangered regions is necessary to contribute to the sensitization and avoidance of fires. For the coming days, too, it is advisable to be careful near the forest.