Status: 06/13/2023 02:41 am
Two large forest fires keep the fire brigades in western Mecklenburg in suspense. Around 100 hectares of forest are burning near Lübtheen and around 35 hectares near Hagenow.
Fires broke out in quick succession on Monday at two former military training areas in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district. In the evening, 100 hectares of forest were affected near Lübtheen on a former military training area. Around 250 comrades from numerous fire brigades tried to get the fire under control. The county triggered local disaster alert. The village of Volzrade, which belongs to Lübtheen, was evacuated as a precaution. Around 160 residents were asked to stay with acquaintances or to report to the emergency accommodation in the gym in Lübtheen.
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Wind and deadwood fuel the fire
The wind and the large amount of dead wood made extinguishing work at Lübtheen more difficult, as an operations manager explained. The fire spread at times by two to three meters per minute. In addition, the forest is extremely contaminated with old ammunition. The firefighters have to keep certain distances to protect themselves from explosions.
Keep doors and windows closed
According to District Administrator Stefan Sternberg (SPD), around 35 hectares of forest had caught fire in the Viezer Heide near Hagenow – this was also a former military training area. About 150 firefighters were on duty. Authorities asked residents to keep doors and windows closed because of the smoke. While a district spokesman was cautiously optimistic about the development in Hagenow, he assessed the situation in Lübtheen as difficult.
Old ammunition detonated
The fire on the former military training area in Lübtheen broke out near a naval arsenal from the Second World War, it said. There were detonations of old ammunition. The devastating major fire in the summer of 2019 also began in the area, keeping the fire brigades on their toes for more than a week. At that time, around 260 people had to temporarily leave their homes in the village of Alt Jabel.
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New aisles and new wells
After the 2019 fire, firebreaks were laid to better contain future fires and protect local communities. In addition, several deep wells were drilled to get enough extinguishing water – that was a problem in 2019. Large circular sprinklers were also purchased, which are now in use, according to a spokesman for the district.
Third fire at Crivitz
In addition to the two major fires in Lübtheen and Hagenow, a third fire broke out in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district on Monday. According to the district administrator, the fire near the former “Waldschlösschen” restaurant near Crivitz was brought under control.
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