Waldbrand near Karlsburg: 1,000 sqm in flames - arson possible!

Waldbrand near Karlsburg: 1,000 sqm in flames - arson possible!

In the late afternoon of July 2, 2025, a forest fire broke out in a forest on the B109 between Karlsburg and Klein Bünzow. At 5:20 p.m., an attentive witness informed the rescue control center of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district about the incident, which immediately led to a quick commitment of the local fire brigade. The alarmed forces of the volunteer fire brigade and the Wolgast police station moved out to counter the rapidly spreading fire. A total of 38 firefighters from the weirs Karlsburg, Züssow, Lühmannsdorf and Klein Bünzow were deployed in the fire area of ​​around 1,000 square meters.

The extinguishing work was successful and the fire could be deleted within a short time. Nevertheless, property damage of around 4,000 euros remained. The incident is now investigating the criminal police because arson cannot be excluded. Such willful petitions are not only a danger to the forest, but also for the surrounding population.

forest fires - a growing problem

forest fires are a recurring topic in Germany. According to the Environmental Federal Agency there was a total of 1,059 forest fires in 2023, which corresponds to a halving compared to 2022. Nevertheless, the number is similar in the multi -year cut and the affected area exceeds the long -term average with 1,240 hectares. The most common fires are registered regionally in northeast Germany, with Brandenburg at the top, where the largest fire area was over 765 hectares.

Annual forest fire statistics shows that human action, be it due to arson or negligence, is responsible for around 40 % of cases. Careless visitors are often the trigger, especially in the period from May to July, when the forest fire hazard is high. The consequences of a forest fire can be devastating; They not only affect the stability of the ecosystem, but also freely set harmful emissions.

experts warn that the risk of forest fires will continue to increase due to rising temperatures and decreasing rainfall in the coming decades. The conversion of needle tree monocultures into diverse mixed forests is considered a possible preventive measure. In this regard, all citizens are called to deal responsibly with nature and thus contribute to better protection of our forests.

The fire in Karlsburg worked like a wake -up call and shows how important it is to be vigilant and take appropriate precautions. For the helpers of the volunteer fire brigades, this was once again a challenge that they mastered with considerable efforts.