From BZ/dpa
A forest fire broke out near Frohnsdorf near Treuenbrietzen (Potsdam-Mittelmark).
Forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel reported on Friday that the fire had spread to more than 60 hectares. According to BZ information, 40 hectares were already on fire around 6 p.m.! The fire then spread further. At around 8:45 p.m., the spokeswoman for the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, Andrea Metzler, said the fire was already blazing over an area of 60 hectares.
Fire brigade units were requested from the districts of Potsdam-Mittelmark and Teltow-Fläming. A total of 380 forces from the fire brigade, police, army and technical relief organization (THW) are deployed. A massive cloud of smoke can be seen as far south as Brandenburg, Engel said. The column of smoke could also be seen from Berlin.
A piece of forest is burning near Frohnsdorf near Treuenbrietzen – the column of smoke can also be seen from Berlin, here from the Springer house in Berlin-Kreuzberg Photo: SF
The use of the firefighters could be difficult because it is also an area in the suspected ordnance area.
“There have already been detonations,” reported Engel. Therefore, the extinguishing work could only be done from the edge. Civil protection warned the population in the area around Treuenbrietzen, Linthe and Niemegk to keep windows and doors closed. “The wind is changing, it’s very dry again,” said Metzler. So far, however, no towns are in danger, she emphasized.
The forest fire from Treuenbrietzen Photo: dpa
A fire brigade spokesman told the BZ that the extinguishing work was difficult and would last throughout the weekend. Forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel assumes the highest danger level 5 for most of the country on Saturday. “The fire brigades are well prepared and have adapted to the weather conditions,” said Engel on Friday. It is not yet possible to estimate whether the situation on Sunday will ease somewhat due to a thunderstorm front forecast by the German Weather Service (DWD).
Engel once again appealed to keep the legally required 50-meter distance to the forest when barbecuing. A discarded cigarette butt from the car could already lead to an embankment fire. “Every little spark can lead to a catastrophe.”
The forest authority does not want to block any forests because of the danger, emphasized the country’s forest fire protection officer. However, Engel pointed out that the smoking and fire ban in the forest still applies.
A fire engine drives past in front of the smoke column Photo: dpa
In 2018, around 400 hectares of forest were destroyed in a forest fire in Treuenbrietzen. Flames raged in the forest southwest of Berlin for several days. Due to the major fire, more than 500 people had to leave the villages of Frohnsdorf, Klausdorf and Tiefenbrunnen.
