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Sonnewalde: After a major fire! Evacuation canceled – injured firefighters!
After a forest fire in Sonnewalde, 52 residents had to be evacuated. Emergency services now have the situation under control.
Sonnewalde: After a major fire! Evacuation canceled – injured firefighters!
A quiet evening was abruptly interrupted for the residents of Kleinbahren on Tuesday when a forest fire broke out near the village. The fire covered an area of approximately 22 hectares and spread in a southeasterly direction. The disaster control team of the Elbe-Elster district was called together at around 2:00 p.m. to coordinate the situation. A total of 272 firefighters with 36 vehicles and 27 police officers were deployed to bring the fire under control. [Niederlausitz Aktuell](https://www.niederlausitz-aktuell.de/niederlausitz-aktuell/orte/elbe-elster/sonnewalde/297435/waldbrand-bei-sonnewalde-gross Schadenslage-aufgehoben-drei-verleute.html) reports that operational control was handed over to the local fire brigade from 10 p.m.
The rapid action of the emergency services prevented the fire from spreading further. However, as a precautionary measure, 52 residents had to be evacuated from Kleinbahren, but were allowed to return to their homes at 8 p.m. Nevertheless, the district road K 6229 remains closed, while most other road closures have already been lifted. Three firefighters sustained injuries during the operation, but fortunately there were no further injuries.
Safe situation, but extreme danger remains
The fire department now has the fire largely under control. But the situation remains tense as several forest fires in southern Brandenburg are being fought at the same time. According to the Tagesschau, a total of eight fires are currently active in the region, with the area being considered “suspect of weapons,” which makes extinguishing work more difficult. The exact causes of the fire are still under investigation, with human negligence being a possible explanation.
Brandenburg is particularly vulnerable to forest fires due to its deep pine forests and the current lack of precipitation.
In view of these dangers, Interior Minister René Wilke calls on the population to be vigilant and warns of the extreme risks. The local authorities recommend that you avoid the affected area as far as possible and follow the instructions of the emergency services. The highest forest fire danger level of 5 applies throughout the region. This can also be confirmed by the data from the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection, where it is recognized that more than 90 percent of all forest fires are due to human activity.
If you have any questions, please call 03535 46 4004. The responsible authorities provide continuous information about the situation and the measures being taken to ensure the safety of the population. Schools, daycare centers and other districts have so far been spared from the fire and have been able to continue to operate.