Brandenburg: Forest fires at Jüterbog can last for days

Brandenburg
Forest fire operation at Jüterbog can still take days

A fire engine on its way to fight the flames in a forest near Jüterbog. photo

© Michael Bahlo/dpa

The fight against the biggest forest fire so far this year in Brandenburg remains tough. It may burn for a few more days.

For the fifth day in a row, the fire brigade fought the forest fire in an area contaminated with ammunition near Jüterbog in Brandenburg. She is preparing for the fact that the operation on the former military training area will last for days. The firefighters cannot get close enough to the source of the fire because of the risk of explosion. Open flames and smoke damage could be seen. The biggest forest fire so far this year in Brandenburg broke out on Wednesday evening. According to the fire department, the affected area covers an area of ​​around 150 hectares.

No other federal state is as heavily contaminated with explosive ordnance as Brandenburg. The contaminated sites have been rotting away in the ground for decades, but remain dangerous. Phosphorus ammunition, for example, is considered highly flammable. With extensive pine forests, relatively little rainfall and dry sandy soil, the risk of forest fires in Brandenburg is particularly high. Hundreds of hectares of forest had burned last summer.

According to the fire brigade, the fire near Jüterbog continued to spread on Sunday. “The fire is too far away to achieve anything with our water cannons,” said the city fire chief and head of operations, Rico Walentin. “It’s frustrating for the firefighter who’s standing here and can’t do anything.” Rain and cooler weather are not in sight for the time being. Because of the old ammunition in the ground, firefighters can only extinguish from safe routes and protective strips.

The CDU state politician Danny Eichelbaum, who is also chairman of the Jüterbog city ordinance assembly, called for the federal government to present a concept for clearing explosive ordnance and provide more money. “If the munitions-infested forests in our region are not cleared, there will always be forest fires because the old munitions lying in the ground will self-ignite.” City Fire Chief Walentin is particularly worried about the months ahead: “Summer is just really getting started. It’s frightening when you think about what else could come.”

dpa

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