Feuerteufel in Calau: Firefighter admits arson!

Feuerteufel in Calau: Firefighter admits arson!

Last weekend there were several fires in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, which caused concern for the fire brigade and police. On Saturday, wood cuttings and meadows burned in two different locations in the region. Near the district road between Calau and Kemmen, around 10 square meters of wood cuttings burned, while around 5 square meters of meadow area on Werchower Feldstrasse went up in flames. Both fires were quickly extinguished by the fire department, but the exact cause remains unclear. The police immediately initiated an investigation to clarify possible backgrounds. Initial damage has been documented, but in both cases it is rather minor.

On Sunday in particular, the fire brigade was deployed for a more serious operation in a forested area on the “Zum alten Wasserwerk” road in Calau. Around 1,000 square meters of forest burned here, possibly caused by arson. The extinguishing work took over an hour and the estimated property damage is around 5,000 euros. Fortunately, there were no injuries and the police are investigating here too.

Arson in one's own ranks

A particularly frightening aspect of these incidents is the fact that a firefighter from Calau, a fellow firefighter who is just 18 years old, admits to having started several fires in the region. This put the fire brigade and the community in great distress. Reports from Fire department magazine According to reports, the young man confessed to being responsible for the fires in recent weeks and this is not an isolated incident. The police were informed by alert witnesses who saw him in the immediate vicinity of fire scenes.

Mayor Werner Suchner expressed his disappointment about this incident and emphasized the importance of dealing with the situation openly in order to counteract possible damage to the company's image. The Calau fire department plans to communicate this incident transparently in order to maintain the public's trust.

Forest fires in Germany

These incidents do not come as a complete surprise when one considers the general development of forest fires in Germany. According to figures from Statista The situation has been alarming in recent years. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares were destroyed by forest fires, and 2022 was one of the worst years in the last 30, with over 3,000 hectares. Fire incidents were particularly high in Brandenburg and Lower Saxony, with arson and negligence being the most common causes. It is therefore irresponsible for some people to start fires in their own surroundings.

Overall, one must be aware that the climatic conditions – due to climate change – have not changed for the better. Forest fires are encouraged by drought and heat, making them a constant threat to habitats and people. It remains to be hoped that incidents like those in Calau do not become the norm and that awareness of protecting our forests remains vigilant.