The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg at the highest level: Alarm level 5 threatens!

The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg at the highest level: Alarm level 5 threatens!

Schönberg, Deutschland - The risk of forest fire in Brandenburg is currently alarming. As the Tagesspiegel in recent days have successfully deleted several smaller fires. A particularly worrying incident occurred in Schönberg, where about 1.7 hectares burned. The cause of this fire has so far been unclear, but it is believed that it may have assumed that it is stored.

In Cottbus, a forest floor fire covered around 1.5 hectares. This resulted in the adjacent railway dam was affected and trains to Drebkau. Overall, the risk of forest fire in Brandenburg is currently at level 4 out of 5, with even level 3 being recorded in the northwest. According to the forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel, the highest danger level 5 could even be reached in southern Brandenburg on Sunday.

Current fire developments

This forest fire season has already been registered 145 fires, which is a striking increase compared to the previous year. Unlike in 2024, where only about 220 hectares were affected, in 2023 with around 770 hectares there is a worrying trend. In this context, firefighters already speak of Brandenburg as "small California", because here the forest and soils are much more susceptible to fires, especially due to the strongly flammable pine forests on sandy soils.

Brandenburg is affected by the nationwide share of around 1.1 million hectares, which is about 37 percent of the total area, from these challenges. Over 90 percent of all forest fires are to be attributed to human action, whereby responsibility lies clearly with us humans. Almost 99 percent of the damage to forest areas are also due to our behavior, while lightning is the only cause of the fire.

preventive measures and perspectives

The region has to deal with rising risks due to the continuing drought. Forest experts are working to make the forests more resistant by planting deciduous trees. The concern for harvesting is also great among farmers who worry about their earnings in view of the extreme conditions. The NABU also raises the drought and demands more attention to the topic.

The fire brigade is active in the forests of Brandenburg every day in order to be prepared for the unpredictable. Training is an important part of the training in order to prepare the emergency services as best as possible for the challenges of forest fires. As Norman Barth, training manager in this area, emphasizes, it is of crucial importance to correctly classify the vegetation and derive technical decisions quickly. This makes training a central element in the fight against forest fires.

With all these measures and the awareness of the dangers, Brandenburg can successfully overcome the upcoming challenges in the 2025 forest fire season. The location remains tense, but the preparation gives reason for confidence.