Field fire near Dissen: Fire brigade creates a fire break against the fire

Field fire near Dissen: Fire brigade creates a fire break against the fire

On the afternoon of July 2, 2025, a field fire broke out near the local road between Dissen-Striesow and Sielow in the Spree-Neiße district. An area of ​​around six hectares was affected. When the emergency services arrived, large parts of the field were already in flames, which made extinguishing work considerably more difficult. However, several fire departments worked together in a coordinated manner to prevent the fire from spreading further. The use of a tractor turned out to be crucial: it was used to plow a fire break about ten meters wide, which served as a barrier against the flames. The flames at times reached as far as the street, which further worried residents. Road pillars and stored wood were damaged, but the good news is that the fire has now been brought under control and extinguishing work is underway. An open flame or heavy smoke development can no longer be detected. The exact cause of the fire is currently unclear; the police have started an investigation.

Forest fires in Brandenburg

Brandenburg remains a hotspot for forest fires, and not just because of what happened in Dissen-Striesow. Current reports show that fire operations are now occurring again in various Brandenburg forest areas. The fire brigade responded to several fires in the region, including a field fire during mowing work in Drebkau, where the fire spread to three hectares of forest. There was another forest fire in Altdöbern covering an area of ​​around one hectare. The temperatures are rising, and with them the dangers: Rising temperatures significantly increase the risk of fires, and the situation is particularly tense at military training areas like in Jüterbog, as around 40 hectares of munitions-contaminated forest are affected.

The fire brigade's current situation reports show that extensive emergency services had to be mobilized here with 17 fire engines. Smaller fires in Treuenbrietzen and Kleinbahren are under constant observation. Up to 150 emergency services work in small stretchers to fight embers and secure an area of ​​20 to 25 hectares.

Causes and effects of forest fires

The frequency of forest fires is not just a problem for minor cases far away from our native forests. Germany is increasingly at risk, especially in years with dry and hot periods. In 2023, over 1,200 hectares of land in Germany were destroyed by forest fires, while the previous year's figure of 3,000 hectares reached the highest level in the last 30 years. Brandenburg and Lower Saxony are particularly affected. The most common causes are arson and negligence; Around half of the fires have no known cause. Global trends also show how dangerous forest fires can be for numerous habitats. Almost 37,000 forest fires fell victim to flames in the Brazilian rainforest in the first half of 2023.

It is all the more important that the emergency services in Germany remain vigilant and make citizens aware of the dangers of forest fires. Nature is suffering and air quality is also deteriorating due to the release of fine dust. Even if the emergency services in Dissen-Striesow now have the fire under control, the risk of a new outbreak or new fires remains omnipresent.