All-clear: odor nuisance after fire in Ostprignitz-Ruppin

All-clear: odor nuisance after fire in Ostprignitz-Ruppin

In Ostprignitz-Ruppin, especially in the Gottberg area, there is reason to calm down today: After a forest fire broke out on Friday afternoon, the all-clear was given by the control center on August 25, 2025 at 12:56 a.m. This decision was made after the risk situation was classified as low. The warning, issued on August 24 at 6:55 p.m., initially referred to an odor nuisance caused by the fire on the premises of an agricultural company, where intensive extinguishing was taking place. The information on this is provided by news.de.

But what exactly happened? The forest fire near Gottberg broke out on Friday morning and was reported to the northeast fire control center at 10:22 a.m. The affected area initially covered half a hectare of field after sparks from a tractor owned by a 68-year-old, who was using it to mow a field, triggered the fire. After this initial ignition, the fire spread to around 5.5 hectares of forest. Fortunately, the tractor itself remained unscathed. Several surrounding fire departments were primarily on duty in the morning, including a drone unit that was requested at 12 p.m. to assess the situation [maz-online.de].

The fight against the flames

Fighting the fire turned out to be time-consuming: Up to 126 emergency services and 28 vehicles were on site in the afternoon. The emergency services used firefighting backpacks, foam agents and manual labor to combat the embers. A German Red Cross supply unit was also on site to support the emergency services. Despite the enormous efforts, the cloud of smoke was visible as far as the B5 federal highway in Wusterhausen. Even if there was no health risk to the population, it was recommended that windows and doors be kept closed.

In addition to the current situation, it is important to consider the spread and intensity of forest fires in Germany. These are increasingly being favored by climatic changes. In 2023, the flames reached over 1,200 hectares, while in 2022 over 3,000 hectares were affected. What is particularly striking is that fire-related damage can be devastating not only in terms of the area impact, but also in terms of the environment and health, a fact that is becoming increasingly important in the discussion about forest fires in Germany. Statista also points out that common causes of forest fires are negligence and arson.

Overall, it remains to be hoped that the all-clear for Ostprignitz-Ruppin will last for a long time and that future fires can be successfully contained. Nevertheless, given climate changes, it is important to remain vigilant and take the risks of wildfires seriously.