Forest fire disaster in Gohrischheide: evacuations and disaster alarm!

Forest fire disaster in Gohrischheide: evacuations and disaster alarm!

A devastating forest fire is raging in Gohrischheide, on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, and has already covered an area of ​​around 200 hectares. Today, July 3, 2025, several communities, including Zeithain, Wülknitz and Gröditz, have been put on alert after an immediate disaster alarm was triggered. Evangelical in the town of Neudorf, where evacuations were ordered, the fire brigade is fighting the flames, which are spreading spectacularly but dangerously in a northerly direction, as Zeit Online reports.

In the midst of this dramatic situation, 480 emergency services have already been mobilized, including firefighters from the affected federal states of Saxony and Brandenburg, the Technical Relief Agency (THW) and emergency services. The fire has been active for several days and visibility is severely impaired due to the thick smoke. Two firefighters suffered serious injuries, underlining the danger of the situation. “The fire even crossed the border into Brandenburg,” adds Bild.

Evacuations and dangers

The threatening spread of the fire forced evacuation in the towns of Heidehäuser and parts of Lichtensee. Police helicopters are in use to monitor the situation from the air and identify embers that keep flaring up. The region is also heavily affected by the development of smoke, which not only leads to a cloud of haze locally, but can also be felt in the wider area as far as Dresden.

The earth's surface and terrain are particularly difficult in the Gohrischheide because parts of the area are contaminated with old ammunition. Despite the rain in the morning, which gave rise to some hope of support, this weather did not bring any noticeable relief to the fire-fighting work.

Forest fire statistics and developments

In 2023, 1,059 forest fires took place in Germany, a significant increase compared to the previous year. If you consider the multi-year average from 1993 to 2022, the average number of fires is 1,075. The forest area affected by fires is estimated at 1,240 hectares, which is higher than the long-term average of 710 hectares. Umweltbundesamt also documents that Brandenburg had the most recorded incidents with 251 forest fires and had the largest burn area of ​​765.2 hectares.

Forest fires not only endanger nature, but also human health. The emissions released by the fires include dangerous substances such as particulate matter and greenhouse gases. With a predicted increase in wildfire risk due to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall, we may miss our important goal of forest and environmental sustainability.