Waldbrand in Gohrischheide: Smoke nuisance reaches Elbe-Elster!

Waldbrand in Gohrischheide: Smoke nuisance reaches Elbe-Elster!

In the past few days, a massive forest fire in the Gohrischheide, on the national border between Saxony and Brandenburg, ensures excitement and concern. Since Tuesday afternoon, the fire, which has its origin on a former military training area near Zeithain in the Meißen district, has been spreading considerably. The area of ​​application now extends to the south of Brandenburg and affects an area of ​​around 100 hectares. According to the regional control center Lausitz, there is no direct risk to the population. Nevertheless, there is a warning of increased smoke and odor nuisance in Mühlberg/Elbe and the surrounding districts, including Fichtenberg, Altenau, Weinberge, Burxdorf and Neuburxdorf. Residents are called to keep windows and doors closed and switch off ventilation and air conditioning systems in order to avoid health risks. Niederlausitz Aktuell reports that the railway line between Riesa and Falkenberg was closed and the streets near the fire zone the emergency services must be kept free.

The extinguishing work is extremely challenging, especially because of the old ammunition hidden in the ground. Despite these difficulties, the firefighters from the Meißen district and the Elbe-Elster district are committed. In Fichtelberg, a provision room for the emergency services is set up, while aisles were beaten and water barriers have been set up using circular regional to contain the fire. One can say that the firefighters have to prove a good hand here to quickly control the situation. A remarkable sight: the column of smoke was visible from Meißen from around 25 kilometers away.

intensive extinguishing work in several regions

This problem with the forest fires is not only limited to the Gohrischheide. Firefighters are also active in other parts of Brandenburg. As reported by the rbb, the Brandenburg firefighters fight against several forest fires in various parts of the country. For example, a fire at Kleinbahren on about 22 hectares is under control, but the fire brigade remains in use. Another fire in the Frohnsdorf district in Potsdam-Mittelmark shows how serious the situation is. Here the fire continued on Wednesday. The federal police supported the extinguishing work with 24 helicopter flights and had 43,200 liters of extinguishing water down.

The heat periods and the associated drought, which are increasingly due to climate change, promote the development of forest fires, as Statista explains in an overview of forest fires and bush firing. Germany is now also affected here: In 2023, over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by fires in Germany. The increase in the destroyed area in recent years, with over 3,000 hectares in 2022, has been particularly strong, which has been the highest value in three decades. Does everything lead to the fact that these topics are increasingly in the spotlight?

The latest events are a clear reminder that forest fires are often occurring due to arson and negligence, especially in Brandenburg and Lower Saxony. Of the forest fires registered in 2023, there were only 27 due to natural causes. The danger that emanates from fire remains a pressing problem not only for the fire brigade, but also for the affected population and the environment.