Acute forest fire risk: Brandenburg threatens Hitze-Hölle!

Acute forest fire risk: Brandenburg threatens Hitze-Hölle!

The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg is currently acute, and the region is experiencing an extreme heat period with temperatures that reach up to 35 degrees Celsius. This ensures an increased warning level of all parts of the country, which must be taken very seriously in the face of dryness and previous experiences. rbb-online.de reports that in summer 2023 around 770 hectares of forest and in 2024 around 220 hectares burned, which makes the region a hotspot for forest fire risks in Germany.

in Gohrischheide, an area that was only affected by one of the largest forest fires in Brandenburg three years ago, the situation has only partially improved. The 850 hectares, which burned at the time, marked the disaster, with 300 hectares on the Brandenburg side. Michael Marth, forest owner and board member of the Mühlberg agricultural cooperative, lost at that time over four hectares of forest. Since then, however, the landscape has changed: instead of the formerly dominating pines, oaks and other deciduous trees are now growing. [rbbb24.de] (https://www.rbb24.de/panorama/-2024/08/brandenburg-el-elster-zwei-jahre- after-gohrischeide-naturschutzgebel) reports that the reforestation is supported by state subsidies that cover up to 70% of the costs.

challenges and solutions

The risk of a new fire remains high, especially because the inactivity of some forest owners leads to the accumulation of totholz, which acts as a fire load. In the meantime, the state government in Brandenburg has launched the first forest fire skills center in Germany to develop innovative approaches to fighting fire. Firefighters are regularly trained in order to be better prepared for the dangers, and the understanding of vegetation and weather conditions is considered crucial for the tactical decisions. zdfhute.de emphasizes how important the exchange of experiences and cooperation with other regions are to learn from past fires.

agriculture is also affected because the extreme drought not only endangers the forest, but also the harvests of farmers. All over Germany, around 70 participants recently took part in an event entitled "Hof with Future", which should promote the understanding of the work of farmers. This shows that the challenges of climate change and the lack of water are tangible and affect all areas of life. rbb-online.de

Current situation and prospects

The weather forecasts do not give hope: Dry weather is again expected for the summer of 2025. The drought, which also increases the risk of forest fires, leads those responsible to look at the current conditions. Course participants of the forest fire competence center agree that it will hardly be avoided without timely measures that there will be fires again.

While the firefighters in Brandenburg continue to be prepared for the challenges, it remains to be hoped that the combination of user awareness, state support and navelling of our forests can lead to an actual turn before the next flame takes the landscape.