Danger of forest fires in Brandenburg: Fire brigade fights against flaming inferno!

Danger of forest fires in Brandenburg: Fire brigade fights against flaming inferno!

There is currently a very high risk of forest fires in Brandenburg, which is largely due to the ongoing drought. The Ministry of the Environment has issued the highest danger level for all districts and independent cities. The surrounding region is particularly affected Lindow in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, where a fire has not yet been completely extinguished.

The fire brigade was deployed with several vehicles to fight the fire, which has already spread to a forest. According to reports, several piles of wood in the Schönberg district burst into flames and the fire spread to around 1.7 hectares. With regard to the health risk, a warning was issued about odor nuisance caused by smoke and fire gases, but there are no acute risks for the population in the surrounding communities such as Neuruppin, Wulkow and Alt Ruppin.

Historical forest fire danger in Brandenburg

The danger of forest fires in Brandenburg is acute; Experts expect further fires to be inevitable. ZDF reports that around 770 hectares of forest will have already burned in 2023. In 2024 it was around 220 hectares. This region has the highest forest fire rate in Germany, mainly due to the highly flammable pine forests, sandy soils and even ammunition contamination. Firefighters compare Brandenburg to “Little California”.

The fires not only pose a danger to nature, they are also confusing and dangerous for the emergency services. For this reason, the state government has founded the first forest fire competence center in Germany, which is intended to develop innovative approaches to fighting vegetation fires. The firefighters also train regularly to be prepared for such situations. Training focuses on understanding vegetation and weather conditions to make informed tactical decisions.

Effects of drought and future projects

The drought also has an impact on agriculture. NABU and farmers express concern about possible crop failures. Climate researcher Kirsten Thonicke highlights the challenges that advancing climate change brings with it. In order to make the forests more resilient, deciduous trees, among other things, are planted. Ronny Kutzner, local fire chief, emphasizes the importance of understanding weather and wind changes for firefighting.

Looking ahead to summer 2025, course participants are concerned as small fires have already occurred and the drought continues. International collaborations are used to learn from the experiences of other regions, which underlines the need to share expertise. Michael Neumeister from the State School for Fire and Disaster Protection also emphasizes the importance of this exchange for effectively fighting forest fires in the future.