All-clear in Brandenburg: odor nuisance caused by forest fire averted!

All-clear in Brandenburg: odor nuisance caused by forest fire averted!

Today, July 10, 2025, odor nuisance is a dominant issue in several regions of Brandenburg following a recently reported forest fire in Gohrischheide. As news.de reports, the Lausitz regional control center was able to give the all-clear at 7:36 a.m give. Previously, a smell of fire startled residents in Cottbus, Dahme-Spreewald, Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Spree-Neiße and Teltow-Fläming after the smoke became more noticeable due to a renewed revival of the wind from the south.

A warning was issued on July 5, 2025 at 2:51 p.m. to encourage people to only contact 112 in real emergencies if a fire was suspected. The warning messages are generated automatically and randomly checked in order to protect the population as best as possible.

Forest fire in Gohrischheide

The fire breaks out on the Brandenburg-Saxon state border in Gohrischheide and affects an area of ​​around 1,000 hectares on the Saxon side. According to rbb24, the fire was unable to spread any further overnight, but the Brandenburg fire department remains on constant alert. More optimal weather conditions at night, including cooler temperatures, prevented further spread on Brandenburg soil.

However, the smoke reached a distance of over 100 kilometers and could be smelled as far away as Berlin, Potsdam and Schönefeld. In this situation, residents were asked to ensure that there was no fire in their area, while the railway line nearby was at risk of blazing flames and the town of Jacobsthal station had to be evacuated.

Emergency services at full speed

In order to fight the fire effectively, additional emergency services have been requested. In Saxony-Anhalt, specialists have been sent to fight vegetation fires, while Brandenburg is taking over the air coordination for fire-fighting helicopters from the Federal Police and Bundeswehr. A total of four firefighting helicopters and two water cannons are also in use and an automated fire engine from Brandenburg has arrived on site.

Forest fires are an increasingly pressing problem in Germany, which is being exacerbated by the climate crisis. According to Statista, over 1,200 hectares of land in Germany were destroyed by forest fires in 2023, while the maximum value of over 3,000 hectares was recorded in 2022. The causes are often arson or human negligence, which makes prevention even more challenging.

Given these challenges, it is important for the population to be vigilant and act promptly in case of suspicion. The local fire department and authorities are doing their best to deal with this situation, but the consideration and behavior of citizens is also crucial when fighting forest fires.