Forest fires in Brandenburg: Disaster alarm and danger for communities!

Forest fires in Brandenburg: Disaster alarm and danger for communities!

In the last few days the situation in Brandenburg has deteriorated dramatically. High temperatures and persistent drought have led to devastating forest fires, which have spread particularly in the Gohrischheide, near the Saxon border. The forests around Jüterbog in Teltow-Fläming are also affected. Maz-online reports that a disaster alert has already been declared for three communities.

The fire in Jüterbog is now under control, but has affected an area of ​​around 165 hectares. A look back at the year 2023 was particularly eye-catching, when almost 688 hectares were affected by a similar forest fire. These repeated incidents raise questions about how wildfire risks are changing as climate change progresses. Experts predict such attacks could increase as drought and heat are fueled by global warming. Statista informed about the fact that over 1,200 hectares of forest in Germany will have already been destroyed by fires in 2023.

Development of the fires in Saxony and Brandenburg

While the fire in Gohrischheide continued to spread, the situation on the Brandenburg side of the border eased, according to reports daily news. The reason for this was a shift in the wind, which reduced the risk of fire. While the emergency services from Saxony and Brandenburg include over 500 men and women, they face major challenges as extinguishing work is endangered in some areas by detonating ammunition.

An impending escalation is feared next Saturday. In order to prevent the fires from spreading, emergency harvesting operations are even being carried out in Elbe-Elster, but this is accompanied by financial losses for the farmers affected. In Saxony, two towns had to be evacuated, but one of the evacuations has now been lifted. Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer thanked the emergency services for their work and emphasized the need for better technical and personnel equipment in order to be able to fight forest fires more effectively in the future.

The causes and consequences of forest fires

The reasons for the increasing risk of forest fires are complex: arson and negligence are particularly frequently cited. Around half of the fires have unexplained causes Statista indicates. As far as health aspects are concerned, the effects of releases such as fine dust should not be underestimated. Such fires are not only a threat to the environment, they also have negative economic consequences. In 2022 there was a record loss of forest area, which shows a need for action across society.

It remains to be noted that the fight against forest fires is an urgent issue for the entire region. Increasing the number of emergency services, preparing for possible worsening of the situation and a better understanding of the causes are urgently needed in order to counter future disasters. Climate change brings additional challenges; It remains to be seen whether Brandenburg and Saxony can cope with this.