Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Fire brigade fights the flames!

Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Fire brigade fights the flames!

On July 8, 2025, the region around Gohrischheide will face a tense situation. Fires have been blazing in the nature reserve on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg since July 1st. This area has an eventful history, as it was once a military training area for the Soviet Army and now poses significant challenges for the fire department due to the risk of detonating ammunition.

The Prignitz district fire department was originally mobilized with 73 emergency services and 15 vehicles to provide assistance. The operation was supposed to start in Perleberg at 2 a.m., but this was abruptly stopped on Monday evening. As nordkurier.de reports, the onset of rain eased the situation so that the operation, which was originally scheduled to last 24 hours, could be canceled.

Difficult firefighting

Unfortunately, the fires are continuing to spread on the Saxon side, where around 1,000 hectares are already in flames. According to tagesschau.de, the situation on the Brandenburg side is more relaxed, but still on alert, as smoke can be felt as far south as Berlin. Current reports speak of five new forest fires in Brandenburg that were registered on Saturday. The affected districts are Oberhavel, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Spree-Neiße and Elbe-Elster.

The fire brigade in Brandenburg is still on alert and is preparing for possible resurgences. In particular, the wind, which has shifted towards Brandenburg, could bring unexpected turns. With the announcement of a critical situation from Saturday afternoon, the emergency services recognized the seriousness of the situation.

Evacuations and warnings

In this sensitive environment, preventive measures also had to be taken. In the Saxon town of Jacobsthal-Bahnhof, citizens were evacuated because the railway line nearby was threatened by flames. nordkurier.de also warns of increased smoke and odor nuisance that can be felt within a radius of over 100 kilometers, including Potsdam and Berlin.

The current situation has greatly affected people in the region and has made it clear how quickly circumstances can change. Therefore, the population should remain vigilant and check whether fires have broken out in their area. The Nina warning app provides up-to-date information about the dangers and warns that in an emergency you should only contact the emergency number in real emergencies.

The coming days will be crucial to bring the fires under control and minimize the impact on the population and the environment in the Gohrischheide.