Waldbrand near Lindow: Fire brigade fights against flames - arson suspected!

Waldbrand near Lindow: Fire brigade fights against flames - arson suspected!

Waldstück bei Lindow, Deutschland - In the late afternoon of June 21, 2025, a fire broke out in a forest near Lindow, in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, a fire that quickly spread to about 1.7 hectares. Almost 150 firefighters were on duty to combat the flames, while the criminal police (Kripo) took up investigations for arson. So far, evidence of the exact causes remains unclear, but the situation asked for quick action.

In an impressive teamwork, the emergency services sent tank fire vehicles into the affected zone in commuting to provide enough water. In addition, a circle regener was used to keep the floor moist. The support of the residents was also noticeable: these brought drinks to the firefighters to strengthen them in their fight against fire. Despite the efforts, however, the fire brigade, including hoses and drums, burned, and the situation was even more difficult by many drivers who drove into the forest despite the forest fire theater level 4.

parallel fire in Croatia

in parallel to this incident, but on a completely different front, the emergency services on the Croatian Adriatic coast fought against violent forest and bush fires. According to Tagesschau , several settlements, including Pisak and Marusici, had to be evacuated. Around 200 inhabitants of the town of Marusici were brought to safety with ships from the water protection police. The worrying in this situation: the fire had come out of control completely, and several houses and cars had already fallen victim to the flame sea.

The operational power in Croatia in a constant race against time, supported by the use of extinguishing aircraft. The combination of extreme drought, intensive heat and strong wind caused an accelerated spread of the fire, which made the situation appear very serious. Here, too, investigations were made for suspected arson, since the fire broke out at three different points at the same time.

forest fires in context

The events in Germany and Croatia are in the context of an increasingly serious problem that is worrying in the course of climate change. According to Statista , the risk of forest fires in Germany becomes increasingly reality. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares burned, but the number of fires remains relatively low compared to previous years. If you consider that over 3,000 hectares were lost in 2022, the dimension of the problem becomes clear.

The most common causes of forest fires are arson and negligent handling, while just 27 fires in Germany are due to natural causes. This development is alarming, especially with regard to the loss of habitats and the financial damage. In summary, it can be said that both the incident at Lindow and the situation in Croatia are an urgent signal for all of us, how serious the threat is from fire and how important it is important to deal with our forests and resources. Nature demands for our mindfulness - and here each one has to come into action.