Disaster alarm: Escaling forest fires in Saxony and Brandenburg!

Disaster alarm: Escaling forest fires in Saxony and Brandenburg!

In the east of Germany, the situation in the forest fires continues to come to a head, especially on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg. On Tuesday, July 1, the fire broke out on the Gohrischheide, a former military training area, and has since expanded to an area of ​​around 1000 hectares, which corresponds to around six square kilometers. Firefighters and farmers are in constant use to control the flames. "The situation has escalated," says Brandenburg's forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel. Firefighters report dangerous conditions because ammunition in the ground can detonate at any time. This forces the emergency services to protect a safety distance of 1000 meters, which also makes the extinguishing work more difficult.

The fire brigade has already increased the number of emergency services to over 500 to fight the flames. Evacuation warnings for residents have also been spent near the fire area. The Warn app Nina informs affected citizens about current developments. Disaster alarm was triggered in the municipalities of Zeithain and Wülknitz as well as in the city of Gröditz. There is also alarm readiness in the vicinity of Lichtenensee, Neudorf and Jacobsthal. Fire has already reached the forest border at Nieska and the fire brigade is prepared to prevent spreading to buildings.

evacuations and security measures

A evacuation warning for Lichtenensee was published shortly before midnight, but later lifted due to a wind turn. Nevertheless, partial evacuation was necessary, and 45 residents of a dormitory for severely disabled people in Heidehäuser were brought to safety. Economic worries come from Zeithain's mayor Mirko Pollmer, who expresses concerns about the financial effects of the major operation. "It all costs a lot of money," said Pollmer, while the military management of the Jacobsthal village fire brigade emphasizes the safety of the emergency services.

in Thuringia are also préoccupant operations on the go, on the Saalfeld Höhe near Gösseldorf, where another forest fire ransom. With an area of ​​250 hectares, this fiery stove has been the largest in Thuringia since 1993 and also attracts the attention of the emergency services who are involved there.

Review of past fires

The current fires are not the first to rage in these regions. In 2023, a large forest fire was registered in Jüterbog, which broke an area of ​​688 hectares. The forest is not only a habitat, but also plays a central role in relaxation and environmental protection. In order to avoid future fires, the Federal Administration has recorded extensive forest fire statistics since the 1970s, which offer precise information about area sizes, causes and financial resources. The data determined are crucial for risk reviews and help to reduce the number and area size of forest fires in the future, such as ble.de

in Bavaria, on the other hand, there were fires in several places in the night of Thursday, with the Upper Palatinate recording the largest surface burn with around 1.4 hectares. Overall, the forest fire situation in Germany remains tense, the fire brigade and the authorities are on alert. In such a scenario, the protection and preservation of the forest are essential to prevent such disasters in the future.

While the extinguishing work continues, the situation in the affected areas remains precarious and the residents are under pressure. Politics and administration are required to provide the necessary means and to ensure the safety of humans and nature. NZZ and mdr continuously report on the current situation.