Nine new fire water wells for Wittstock: safety for our forests!

Nine new fire water wells for Wittstock: safety for our forests!

The risk of forest fires in Brandenburg is a serious issue, and the Ostprignitz-Ruppin region can sing a song about it this summer. By August 2025, 43 forest and vegetation fires had already been recorded there, covering an estimated area of ​​14 hectares. The most serious case occurred on June 22nd in Schönberg near Lindow, followed by a field fire on July 5th in Fehrbellin, which affected around five hectares. [maz-online.de]. which affected approximately 5000 square meters of space.

Nationwide, the balance sheet looks even bleaker: 256 forest fires were counted throughout Brandenburg, a significant increase compared to the entire year of 2024, in which there were 211 fires. This corresponds to a considerable total area of ​​239 hectares that went up in flames. Human activity is primarily responsible for this - more than 90 percent of all forest fires can be traced back to this. mleuv.brandenburg.de emphasizes that strict precautionary measures must be observed to minimize the danger.

Improving the fire water supply

To help fight future fires, the state of Brandenburg has drilled 90 new deep and shallow wells to improve the fire-fighting water supply. This initiative involves an investment of almost five million euros and is part of the comprehensive plan to strengthen fire protection in the region. In Wittstock, for example, Agriculture Minister Hanka Mittelstädt ceremoniously inaugurated a new well in Fretzdorf. Wittstock's fire chief, Steffen Müller, assesses the fire-fighting water situation in his community as sufficient. Nevertheless, there are also critical voices, such as that of Mario Jennrich, the deputy fire chief in Heiligengrabe, who points out the insufficient quantities of fire-fighting water in his community.

Five new fountain locations are planned for Heiligengrabe. The drilling was carried out in close coordination with the fire departments in Dahmeland, Fläming, Havelland and Ostprignitz-Ruppin. In Brandenburg, more than 2,300 fire water extraction points are already ready for use. And finally, the regional lease agreement between private forest owners and the Brandenburg State Forestry Agency will also be crucial in order to create new extraction points and further reduce the risk of forest fires.

The current situation in Brandenburg

With a forest area of ​​around 1.1 million hectares, Brandenburg overlooks a large part of its state area, which corresponds to around 37 percent. These areas are characterized primarily by their highly combustible pine forests and sandy soils. Another worrying detail: The forest fire season is not just a local problem, but Brandenburg is the national leader in forest fires. According to statistics, 251 fires were counted in Brandenburg in 2023, destroying 765 hectares of forest area. The 2022 season was no less frightening with 523 fires and a burned area of ​​1,426 hectares. rbb24.de adds that most fires occur between May and July, which poses major challenges for forest protection authorities every year.

It is important to remain vigilant - not only weather conditions, but also human behavior can significantly influence the risk of fire. With the right preparation and education, some fires could perhaps be prevented. It remains to be hoped that the new extinguishing wells can contribute to the security of the region.