Major fire in Brandenburg: Fire brigade fights fire on ammunition site!

Major fire in Brandenburg: Fire brigade fights fire on ammunition site!

Yesterday evening, July 1, 2025, a sizeable forest fire broke out in an area contaminated with ammunition near Horstwalde, Teltow-Flemming. How maz-online.de According to reports, the fire report was sent to the premises of the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAM) at around 8 p.m. A massive column of smoke was visible as far away as Potsdam, which alerted the fire alarm center in the city.

The situation required immediate action: the crisis team of the Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior and the Teltow-Fläming district were immediately informed. Initial estimates reported around 2,000 square meters of forest burning, but it quickly became clear that the actual spread was much larger. Numerous fire departments and emergency vehicles were on site, and specialized forest fire units from the district were alerted.

Dangerous circumstances and challenges

Fighting the fire is particularly challenging because the fire site may contain ammunition residue, which poses a serious explosion risk. Firefighters therefore had to form barriers and extinguish the fire from a safe distance. Observation drones were used to accurately record the extent of the fire. Police are also on site and are investigating the cause of the fire, although it is currently unclear whether natural ignition or human error is responsible.

The dangers caused by the rapid spread and the risk of explosion should not be underestimated. Experts point out that Brandenburg has a high density of areas contaminated with ammunition. Around 575,000 hectares, around 20% of the country's area, were classified as suspected weapons; Of these, 300,000 hectares are in forest. This makes the federal state the most affected by old ammunition in Germany. Since 2002, the ten largest forest fires in Brandenburg have occurred exclusively in areas contaminated with ammunition.

The situation in Brandenburg

Due to the weathering of old ammunition, the risk of spontaneous combustion increases. In 2019, 63% of the forest areas that caught fire in Brandenburg were affected by such ignition events. The remnants of previous military activities make fighting fires much more difficult, as emergency responders must maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from endangered zones. In this context, the ERWIN project conducts comprehensive analyzes and develops recommendations for action for prevention and demunitioning.

Federal ministries also support the project, which includes, among other things, measures for early disposal of explosive ordnance and the establishment of buffer zones. The combination of military legacy and increasing forest fire risks is a challenge that is of great importance not only for the fire department, but for the entire region.

Although extinguishing efforts are currently underway, it remains to be seen how long it will take to bring the fire fully under control. With all of these challenges, it is essential to put the safety of all emergency responders first and to respond appropriately.