Waldbrand in Brandenburg: Flames reach 12 meters - fire brigade fights!

Waldbrand in Brandenburg: Flames reach 12 meters - fire brigade fights!

Schönberg, Brandenburg, Deutschland - In the past few days, a destructive forest fire in Schönberg, in the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, has kept the region in suspense. Since Saturday, the fire has raged over an area of ​​around 17,000 square meters and has achieved a dangerous dimension due to the high dryness and temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius. Eyewitness report flames that beat up to 12 meters high, which the fire brigade presents challenges before immense. According to t-online to fight the fire, which took its exit on several stacks of wood in the district and quickly attacked the adjacent forest.

The emergency services did not report any injuries, but the high temperatures led to parts of their equipment melted. On Sunday, around 50 firefighters were still on duty, supported by tank fire vehicles, which were continuously supplied with water in commuting. The warehouse life is hard - the residents ensured a welcome refreshment with drinks.

alarming causes of fire

The criminal police have already been alerted because there is suspicion of arson. According to per earth , 95% of the forest fires are usually due to human behavior in Germany, whereby arson and negligence are the most common causes. Only 5% of the fires are of natural origin, and in Germany there are no other natural causes of fire except lightning strikes.

Michael Müller from the TU Dresden explains that even small discounts can have devastating consequences in dealing with fire. Climate change and the associated dry periods also drive the risk of fire, which makes the situation in regions like Brandenburg particularly precarious, where over 3,000 hectares of forest burned in 2022 - the highest value in the past 30 years. For 2023 Statista already over 1,200 hectares that fell victim to the flames.

an appeal to the citizens

The warning of the district forester is unmistakable: no open fire and no smoking in the forest. If fires are suspected, it is imperative to contact emergency number 112. "The dangers that emerge from forest fires are not only significant in terms of area," said the district forester. "They also have serious effects on the environment and health of the population through the released fine dust." The situation remains tense and the fire brigade wants to regain control as quickly as possible.

The situation in Schönberg is a lasting sign of how fragile our forests suffer from the pressure of increasing temperatures and extreme weather conditions. It is important to raise more awareness of the use of nature in order to counteract future disasters.