Suche
Mein Konto
Forest fire disaster in Brandenburg: Evacuations in Babben & Kleinbahren!
Forest fires in Dahme-Spreewald: High danger due to dryness and heat. Evacuations are taking place in affected locations while fire departments and authorities intervene.
Forest fire disaster in Brandenburg: Evacuations in Babben & Kleinbahren!
The heat in Brandenburg has once again left its mark. On July 1, 2025, there was a dramatic increase in the risk of forest fires due to ongoing drought and high temperatures. So far, seven forest fires have broken out in different regions, including the most serious in the town of Babben in the Elbe-Elster district, which quickly got out of control. The town of Kleinbahren was also evacuated to protect the citizens. A total of around 120 residents had to be brought to safety as a precaution, while the flames had not yet reached any residential buildings. The fire department and city administration were on site to support the population and bring the fires under control. This situation is not an isolated case, as berlin-live reports.
Brandenburg is known throughout Germany for its high risk of forest fires. With its extensive pine forests, light sandy soils and low rainfall, it is considered the region with the highest risk. Fires are a common problem here, especially in the hotter months of the year, as the experiences of recent years have shown. There have already been over 1,000 forest fires in 2023, which together devastated around 1,240 hectares of forest area. In comparison, the situation was even more serious in previous years, especially 2022, when almost 2,400 fires were registered on more than 3,000 hectares. [maz-online].
Firefighting challenges
One of the biggest problems with forest fires in Brandenburg is the fact that around 300,000 hectares of forest area are difficult to access due to ammunition contamination. This danger makes extinguishing work considerably more difficult. Forest fires in Brandenburg not only harm the environment, but also pose a threat to residents. In the past, large fires, such as the devastating one near Jüterbog in June 2023, lasted several weeks and put an enormous strain on the emergency services. sdw-brandenburg informs that young pine forests are particularly at risk, while old-growth mixed stands are less susceptible to fires.
Going forward, it is important to rethink firefighting and prevention strategies. This includes the expansion of early forest fire detection systems and special silvicultural measures aimed at minimizing the risk of fires. This includes, among other things, the creation of fire protection strips and the promotion of deciduous forests, which can serve as natural fire brakes.
The situation in Brandenburg clearly shows that the risk of forest fires must be taken seriously and that appropriate measures are urgently needed to protect both the forests and the people in this region.