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Forest fire in Lawitz: B112 closed – fire brigade in constant use!
On June 26, 2025, there was a forest fire in Lawitz near Eisenhüttenstadt, which temporarily closed the B112. Fire brigade in action.
Forest fire in Lawitz: B112 closed – fire brigade in constant use!
On June 26, 2025, a forest fire was reported in Lawitz at 11:30 a.m., which spread quickly and put the fire department on alert. An area of around 100 x 100 meters was affected, which was worked on by fire brigades from Eisenhüttenstadt and Neuzelle as part of the extinguishing work. From 12 p.m., the B112 federal highway was closed from the Eisenhüttenstadt roundabout in the direction of Neuzelle, which led to significant traffic delays.
The extinguishing work lasted for two hours until the fire was brought under control at 2:10 p.m. and the road was passable again. Before this fire, there was another incident on June 23rd and 24th, in which a fire raged in around 600 square meters. The current fire posed a challenge for firefighters due to the difficult terrain and the need for long hoses to access affected areas.
Cause and dangers
The cause of the current forest fire remains unclear. It is suspected that embers or intense sunlight could be responsible. Forest fires like this can have devastating consequences for the environment and biodiversity, such as Greenpeace reported. In Germany, forest fires are mostly man-made, with carelessness during leisure activities being the trigger in many cases.
In 2023, for example, around 40% of forest fires in Germany had their roots in human activity. While the number of fires has decreased compared to 2022, the overall situation remains concerning, particularly given the climate crisis and regional drought conditions. Natural events and human behavior increase the risk of fires, especially during dry periods, which can be exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon. Current weather conditions also suggest that the risk of forest fires will increase in the coming years, according to a report by the Federal Environment Agency is predicted.
Forest fires in Germany
In 2023, a total of 1,240 hectares of forest area in Germany was affected by fires, with Brandenburg being the region with the most recorded forest fires. The largest burn area of 765.2 hectares was recorded in the eastern state. Such fires have a negative impact on the stability and vitality of forest ecosystems. The intensity and type of fire are primarily responsible for this. Ground fires and smoldering fires can damage the roots and seeds of trees and endanger future flora.
The impact of wildfires reaches not only the environment but also human health as they release emissions that affect air quality. Forest fires also increase greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn can increase global warming. It is therefore essential to take preventive measures to minimize the risk of forest fires.
The fire department will continue to monitor how the situation in Lawitz and the surrounding area develops. It remains to be hoped that the next operations will not be as nationwide as the previous devastating fires. For the time being, citizens are called upon to use forests and natural areas responsibly and thus help prevent further fires.