Wildfire risk increases: Already 150 fires this season

A sign in a forest area indicates the danger of wildfire.

The danger of forest fires in Brandenburg increased significantly again before Whitsun. On Friday, there were fires on three forest areas, as reported by the forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel.

An area contaminated with explosive ordnance near Halbe (Dahme-Spreewald) was also affected. The extent of the fire remained unclear at first. There were also fires in Rädel near Kloster Lehnin in Potsdam-Mittelmark on the edge of a military training area and near Neubrück (Oder-Spree). There, too, the size of the fires could not yet be foreseen. The fire brigades' operations continued. On Thursday, there had been fires on 2500 square metres of forest near Massen (Elbe-Elster) and on 500 square metres in Schwarzbach near Ruhland (Oberspreewald-Lausitz).

Already 150 wildfires in Brandenburg since the start of the season

This brought the number of wildfires in the country to 150 since the beginning of the fire season. Engel expected medium to high danger levels for the coming Whitsun weekend. "The precipitation of the past few days has only brought short-term relief," said the expert. Wind had ensured that the moisture was removed from the soil.

Risk level 4 in Havelland

According to information from the Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment on Friday morning, seven districts were at risk level 2, six districts at medium risk level 3 and Havelland at the second highest level (4). Engel expects higher risk levels throughout the state in the coming days.

Smoking ban in Brandenburg forests

Engel appealed to excursionists at Pentecost to observe the strict ban on smoking in the forest and to keep the legally prescribed 50-metre distance from the forest when barbecuing. When hiking in the forest, anyone coming in a car should park their car well outside. "Anyone who drives their car into forest paths or blocks access roads will receive a parking ticket from the forestry authorities," warned the forest fire protection officer.