Red alarm level: forest fire threatens communities on Saxony-Brandenburg border!

Red alarm level: forest fire threatens communities on Saxony-Brandenburg border!

Who would have thought that a forest fire could break out so close to the border between Saxony and Brandenburg? The Gohrischheide has been affected since Tuesday, and the location is becoming increasingly serious. The affected communities of Zeithain, Wülknitz and the city of Gröditz were on alert, and the evacuation of the Neudorf district, where around 290 people live, has already been lifted because the fire seems to be under control. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense, reports maz-online.de .

over 500 fire brigade, technical relief organizations and aid organizations were mobilized in order to combat the fire in several sections. With heavy equipment and numerous support from the air, the emergency services try to tame the flames. Because of the dangers from possibly existing ordnance on the former military training area, helicopters have to keep a safety distance of at least 1000 meters. This risk should not be underestimated, explains Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke, who praised the courageous use of the forces and pronounced the wishes of recovery to the two seriously injured firefighters.

an unpredictable enemy

The fire has spread over an area of ​​around 165 hectares, which raises the first estimates in the region to between 200 and 600 hectares. The situation seems to improve again, since the wind drives the smoke development towards Saxony and thus protects the view and air quality in Brandenburg. Nevertheless, cities such as Radebeul and Dresden experienced increased fine dust values, some of which were up to many times the average values, so Niederlausitz-aktuell.de .

The operations management has already requested exploration helicopters from the Saxon state police and water cannons from the Bundeswehr in order to counteract the destructive power of the fire. The authorities also call for caution and recommend that the residents avoid affected areas and keep windows and doors closed.

forest protection as a future topic

forest fires are a problem that may not only be considered locally. The importance of the forest as an ecosystem is enormous, and the protection and preservation of this area has gained urgency in Germany, a densely populated country. Since the 1970s, forest fire data has been systematically collected to create forecasts and risk reviews. The aim is to significantly reduce the number and area size of forest fires, such as ble.de confirmed.

It remains to be hoped that the ongoing operations will quickly lead to a successful end and that the forest in the region can soon shine again in its full beauty. In the meantime, the events impressively show how important careful forest fire prevention and a prudent handling of the valuable estate are. Stay informed and protect yourself!