Wiesen fire on BER: Large cloud of smoke ensures airport closure!

Wiesen fire on BER: Large cloud of smoke ensures airport closure!

On Saturday afternoon, July 5, 2025, it came to a surface fire in a meadow near the southern Railway of Berlin-Brandenburg (BER) Airport, which generated a large cloud of smoke that was visible over several kilometers. According to MAZ-Online 2:45 p.m. deleted. The airport fire brigade was on site with numerous special vehicles and was supported by emergency services from surrounding communities.

During the fire of the fire, the Südbahn had to be closed for about an hour, which meant that all aircraft landed exclusively over the north railway. An airport spokesman confirmed that there were no further impairments for air traffic and there was no danger for passengers and employees. Injured were not reported. However, the exact cause of the fire remains unclear; The police have started their investigation. Interestingly, there was already a fire in a grain field in the area two weeks ago, which indicates that such incidents in this region are not unnoticed.

The effects of dryness and climate change

The current fire throws a light on the increasing forest fire risks in Germany, especially in Brandenburg, where an increasing number of fires has been registered in recent years. According to Statista there was over 1,200 hectares that were affected by forest fires in Germany in 2023 alone. This indicates the dangers that arise from persistent dry and heat periods, reinforced by climate change.

forest fires not only threaten nature, but also the quality of life of people. You can spread out at lightning speed and ensure that not only space is lost, but also considerable financial damage. It is particularly alarming that the most common causes of forest fires are often arson or negligence. Around half of the cases even have unknown causes, which makes targeted prevention difficult. In 2023 there were around 11.9 million hectares of forest space that were destroyed by fires in 2023, and a worrying trend is also noticeable in Brandenburg.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the local authorities improve the security situation with regard to forest and meadow fires in the future. The investigation into the cause of the recent incident will be crucial to better manage and prevent future fires in the region. It is clear that a good hand is required here to reduce even greater damage.