Large-scale operation in Berlin
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Fire in Grunewald after explosion – Avus closed, train traffic interrupted
A forest fire broke out after an explosion at the police detonation site in Grunewald. The situation is unclear. The fire department is on site. Important traffic arteries are closed, rail traffic is interrupted.
– Explosion at the police blast site triggers a forest fire in Grunewald
– 1.5 hectares of forest are now burning, extinguishing work has not yet started
– Firefighting tanks and water cannons are in use
– Bundeswehr special forces and fire-fighting helicopters requested
– Avus and surrounding streets are completely closed, and train traffic is also interrupted
– Residents should keep windows and doors closed
After an explosion at the police detonation site in Berlin’s Grundwald, a fire broke out early Thursday morning. It set fire to the adjacent forest.
The Berlin fire brigade has set up a restricted zone within a radius of 1,000 meters, spokesman James Klein told rbb. The reason is the massive risk of explosion. Up to 50 tons of ordnance are stored on the blast site. The Berlin fire brigade is on site with more than 120 emergency services.
However, due to further explosions and flying debris, the fire brigade has not yet started extinguishing the fire.
1.5 hectares burn
The fire is currently affecting an area of around 1.5 hectares, i.e. around 15,000 square meters. This also includes the area of the detonation site, said a fire department spokesman. The fire spreads out in a ring. As a precaution, firefighting helicopters and special forces from the Bundeswehr were requested. An rbb reporter reported from on site that water cannons and fire fighting vehicles were also in use.
The fire department spokesman said the cause of the fire has not yet been clarified. It can be assumed that the high level of drought in the area will affect the further course of the fire, it said. The heat expected on Thursday will primarily cause problems for the emergency services.
Explosion triggers fire in Berlin’s Grunewald
Residential areas are not in danger according to the findings of the fire department. “We will prevent that,” said a spokesman. The nearest residential buildings are at least two kilometers away. Transport infrastructure is also not affected. So far there have been no injuries.
The authorities warned the population about the fire on the warning apps and called on them to avoid the danger area. Residents should keep windows and doors closed. Ventilation and air conditioning should be turned off.
Interruptions in rail traffic, Avus closed
Due to the fire in Berlin’s Grunewald forest, regional and S-Bahn services to the west have been interrupted. The S-Bahn line S7 only runs from Berlin to Grunewald, as a railway spokesman said. The S1 is also interrupted.
In regional traffic, lines RE1 and RE7 as well as RB21 and RB22 between Berlin-Wannsee and Berlin-Friedrichstraße are interrupted. The railway announced on its website that long-distance traffic was also interrupted.
The Avus Autobahn, Kronprinzessinnenweg and Havelchaussee are closed in the area of the fire. As the Berlin fire brigade informed the rbb, the blockage should remain in place throughout the day
Cause of fire still unclear
According to a police spokesman, it is still completely unclear how the explosion could have happened. Found ammunition is stored on the approximately 200×200 meter square and defused in a controlled manner by the explosive ordnance disposal service of the Berlin police.
“We are currently in the consultation and observation phase,” the spokesman said. A picture of the situation is currently being obtained using a drone. The aim is first to decide together with those responsible for the blasting site how the blasting site can be protected. The extinguishing work would begin shortly.
Broadcast: rbb24 evening show, August 4th, 2022, 7:30 p.m