Fires and storm damage: Fire brigade in constant operation in MV!

Fires and storm damage: Fire brigade in constant operation in MV!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, hot weather recently caused a real marathon of operations by the police and fire brigade. July 3, 2025 will certainly be remembered by some emergency services, as numerous fires and fallen trees kept the relief workers on tenterhooks. On Wednesday evening, the consequences of the change in the weather were evident in several places in the region. An area near Schmadebeck near Kröpelin was particularly affected, where 7 hectares of arable land and 0.5 hectares of forest initially went up in flames. The flames were extinguished around 10 p.m., but the damage was extensive, covering around 20 hectares. The suspected cause of this was harvesting work in the field, which is often considered a cause of fire in such situations.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. In northwest Mecklenburg, a field fire was also discovered in Steinbeck near Klütz, which affected around 500 square meters. Fires also had to be extinguished in Veelböken near Gadebusch and Weselsdorf, which were caused by threshing work or a fire at the edge of the forest. There were further operations in Neustrelitz as well as at Bürgersee and between Karlsburg and Klein Bünzow, where around 1,000 square meters of forest burned. Fortunately, all fires were brought under control quickly and initial reports indicated that there were no injuries, which was a small bright spot for the emergency services in a challenging day.

Danger of severe weather in the north

The hot temperatures and the threat of storms reported by the Unwetterzentrale also caused other disruptions in the region. In Ludwigslust-Parchim, Schwerin and northwest Mecklenburg, the unpredictable weather conditions had an impact in the form of fallen trees. The fire brigade control center recorded around 70 calls, mainly because of broken branches and fallen giant trees. In the state capital Schwerin, the sight of many fallen trees was unmistakable, but fortunately there was no major damage.

The storms made their way from Boizenburg via Wittenburg to a few kilometers further to Wismar without causing any noticeable damage. Despite some cars being damaged by falling branches, it was dismissed as a lesser evil - a sign in a long battle against adverse weather conditions. On Wednesday the weather did not exceed heat records, but nature showed its unpredictable side.

Background and developments

A look at the trends of recent years shows that between 1991 and 2017 the area affected by forest fires decreased overall. However, the weather-related risks remained the same or even increased in some areas, as the Umweltbundesamt has found. Extreme drought and heat in 2018 and 2019 led to an increase in forest fires, especially in the northeastern federal states. The events back then and now show how important prevention and quick reactions are when it comes to fighting forest fires.

With the risk of severe weather ever increasing, the responsible authorities must continue to be prepared in the future in order to cope with the dangerous situation. Whether through preventative measures or through quick deployment: a good knack for fighting fires should be the top priority in order to protect nature and local residents as best as possible.