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Hay bale fire on L04: Fire brigade fights against blazing flames!
On August 13, 2025, there were several fires near Wittenburg caused by dry conditions. Investigations are ongoing.
Hay bale fire on L04: Fire brigade fights against blazing flames!
A fire that broke out on Tuesday, August 13, 2025, around 5 p.m. on the L04 in Wittenburg caused a stir. Near the Aral gas station, a tractor driver noticed the fire that had broken out on the bales of hay being transported on his trailer. These hay bales lay in a field for a long time before they were picked up. Despite the rapid intervention of the fire brigade, the fire could only be extinguished at 8.30 p.m. The police estimate the material damage caused at around 15,000 euros.
A police spokesman confirmed that the investigation into the cause of the fire has now been taken over by the criminal police. The exact circumstances of the fire are currently unclear, and officers from the criminal investigation service have begun to secure clues. It remains to be seen whether the fire was caused by negligent disposal or other causes. This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in the region. As early as July 3, 2025, the police spoke of a fire on a farmland near Wittenburg, in which 120 firefighters from surrounding towns rushed to help.
Difficult extinguishing work
The July mission was particularly challenging. The wind carried the smoke towards the BAB 24, which led to a traffic warning. Fighting the fire proved problematic as the wind kept reigniting the fire. During this incident, a residential building on Lehsener Chaussee even had to be evacuated as a precaution, but this was quickly reversed when the fire department was able to bring the fire under control at 5:10 p.m. Around 15 hectares of land were destroyed by this fire and the material damage amounted to around 5,000 euros. The cause of the fire was also investigated by the criminal police, with suspicion of negligent arson against unknown persons.
A look at forest fires in Germany
Such incidents cannot only be observed in Wittenburg. Forest fires and fires on agricultural land are increasing across Germany, primarily due to the effects of climate change. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares of land in Germany were destroyed by forest fires, while in 2022, over 3,000 hectares, the highest value in the last 30 years was recorded. The most common causes of these fires are arson and negligent acts, although unknown factors often remain a big unknown. There are similar developments around the world, with countries such as Brazil, the USA and Australia particularly affected.
As the investigation into the Wittenburg fires continues, concerns about safety and protection from the unpredictable power of fire remain an important issue for many people. Education and awareness on how to prevent fires is therefore essential to prevent future incidents.