Forest fire in Elbe-Elster: Evacuation in small stretchers lifted!

Forest fire in Elbe-Elster: Evacuation in small stretchers lifted!

On July 1, 2025, a forest fire broke out near Babben in the Elbe-Elster district, which promptly resulted in the evacuation of the small village of Kleinbahren. 52 residents had to temporarily leave the place. But just a few hours later, on Tuesday evening, the evacuation was lifted again. The disaster control team had classified the situation as no longer threatening, which obviously brought relief to everyone involved. The residents' return home was thus ensured MAZ reported.

The forest fire had spread to an area of ​​13 hectares. The fire department's emergency services provided active assistance, including support from around 300 firefighters and 36 emergency vehicles. In several other regions, including Treuenbrietzen, Sorno, Fichtenberg, Proschim, Laubsdorf, Zinnitz and Schönwalde, there were other sources of fire that were fought at full speed. Although there was smoke and danger, the spread of the fire was successfully contained. The fire brigade also managed to bring the fire near Sonnewalde, which affected an area of ​​around 22 hectares, under control after the fire brigades there were mobilized early on daily news reported.

Facts about the forest fires

The fire was classified as a major incident at 2 p.m., complicated by strong winds pushing the flames toward the southeast. The relatives of the affected citizens were gathered in the Lindenkrug restaurant in Großbahren, while daycare centers and schools fortunately remained unaffected by the evacuation. This speed of reaction is particularly important given the sometimes very hot weather conditions in Brandenburg, as temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius are forecast for the coming days.

The background to these forest fires is worrying. In recent years, the frequency of forest fires in Germany has increased, and statistics show that densely populated areas such as Brandenburg are particularly affected by this development. The federal administration has been compiling forest fire data since the 1970s, which also documents the causes and losses. The aim is to reduce the number and area of ​​forest fires in the future, like that Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food informed. Protecting and preserving forests is more important than ever, especially against the background of extreme weather conditions.

The public is urged to be careful in the affected areas and to follow the instructions of emergency services. A citizen telephone board has also been set up to clarify questions and provide further information about the operations. A high risk of forest fires requires constant vigilance and good cooperation in order to be able to control the risky situations and protect the forest stands.