Alarming forest fire wave in the Elbe-Elster district-fire brigade in constant stress!

Alarming forest fire wave in the Elbe-Elster district-fire brigade in constant stress!

In the district of Elbe-Elster, June 26, 2025 occurred one of the largest forest fire operations of the year, which demanded the fire brigades from Doberlug-Kirchhain, Finsterwalde and the Elsterland office in top form. The operation started at 12:45 p.m. after a forest near Hennersdorf was first alerted. Further alarms followed in the course of the afternoon: at 2:05 p.m. in Rückersdorf, at 5:45 p.m. in Fischwasser and at 6:19 p.m. in Sorno. A total of four independent fire spots and several smoke developments, especially in Rückersdorf, fish water and Eichholz, had to be spotted and processed.

Due to the quick alarm, which goes back to experience from previous major fires, major damage could be averted. The leadership vehicle (ELW1) of the city of Finsterwalde was responsible for the coordination, while the district's operational control car was also consulted in the district. In the middle of the evening, around 10:00 p.m., the operation could be completed for the time being after a rain shower contested the spread of the flames.

forest fires in Brandenburg

The Brandenburg region has struggled with a noticeable increase in forest fires in recent years. In 2022, one of the three most forest fire years has been in the past two decades with a total of 507 fires recorded and over 1,410 hectare affected areas. The main causes of these fires are negligence and arson, as reported by the Forst Brandenburg. The extreme drought and the high temperatures in June, which achieved new record values, also contributed to the risk of fire.

An example of the drama of the situation is the forest fire in Gohrischheide 2022, in which approx. 850 hectares of forest burned, of which 300 hectares belonged to Brandenburgers. Michael Marth, a affected forest owner, lost over 4 hectares of forest. The forest, which once consisted mostly of pine, is now developing into a mixed forest with oaks and other deciduous trees, supported by funding from the country, which cover up to 70% of the reforestation costs.

measures and outlook

Although it has so far been light -headed in 2024 and only a few small fires were registered, the danger remains. The fire brigade warns in particular of dead wood in the forest, which should be removed as a fire load. Some forest owners have not yet entered the afforestation, which further increases the risk of fire. A lot of effort is also associated with the care of the young forest: regular removal of grasses and herbs is necessary to keep the plants healthy and minimize the risk of new fires.

The emergency services from Elbe-Elster undoubtedly deserve and recognize their courageous efforts in this critical situation, according to the deputy district fire chief Mario Harnisch. It is clear that the topic of forest fire prevention and management will continue to be on the agenda in order to protect the forests of the region and to sensitize the population.