Danger of forest fires in Brandenburg: Red alert for our forests!

Danger of forest fires in Brandenburg: Red alert for our forests!

There is currently a high risk of forest fires in Brandenburg, which increases significantly, especially in the hot season. Persistent drought and low rainfall are contributing to the ever-increasing risk of fire in the region. Loud MAZ Online The forest fire threat is assessed daily by the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Consumer Protection (MLEUV) between March 1st and September 30th.

Brandenburg has the highest risk of forest fires in Germany, with around 300,000 hectares of munitions-contaminated forest area. This amounts to approximately a third of the state's total forest area, making the situation particularly dangerous. A serious forest fire in 2023 on a military wasteland near Jüterbog presented the emergency services with immense challenges, as fire-fighting operations were hampered by areas contaminated with ammunition.

The problem of old ammunition

It is no secret that old ammunition poses a serious problem for forest firefighting in Brandenburg. Since 2002, the ten largest forest fires in the state have occurred exclusively in areas contaminated with munitions, affecting a total of 3,301 hectares. In 2019, for example, spontaneous combustion of old ammunition led to fires on 851 hectares of forest area, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the total forest fire area that year. Forest FNR highlights that the Brandenburg Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (KMBD) has neutralized over 14,500 tons of explosive ordnance since 1991, a task that requires up to 5 million euros in public funds annually.

The vegetation structures of former military areas also promote the rapid spread of fire. In recent years it has also become clear that the combination of military legacy and the increasing risk of forest fires poses major challenges for Brandenburg. Particular attention is paid to the early clearance of explosive ordnance, the establishment of exclusion zones and the regular maintenance of fire-fighting water extraction points.

Forest fire statistics and prevention measures

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of forest fires in Germany, which was primarily due to extremely dry weather conditions. Loud Federal Environment Agency The number of registered forest fires in Brandenburg increased to 512 in 2018, affecting large areas. The fire in Jüterbog was particularly serious, affecting more than 573 hectares.

The spread of forest fires depends heavily on factors such as weather, forest structure and wind speed. This makes it all the more important to invest in modern technologies for early detection and fire fighting. In Brandenburg, classic precautionary measures were further developed, which improved the fire protection infrastructure.

Given this situation, it is essential to take preventive measures. This includes the development of new concepts for demunitioning and the continuous training of emergency services in order to be able to meet the challenges of forest fires in the future. One thing is certain: Brandenburg will repeatedly reach the limits of its forest fire fighting capacities in the coming years if no sustainable solutions are found.