A fire-fighting plane is waiting to be refueled with water at Schönhagen Airport. The forest fire at Jüterbog can only be fought from the air. Photo: picture alliance / dpa
From BZ/dpa
A drone is to be used again on Saturday morning to assess the extent of the ongoing forest fire near Jüterbog.
After evaluating the images, it becomes clearer how the fire developed overnight, said the forest fire protection officer for the state of Brandenburg, Raimund Engel.
On Friday, the fire spread to the ammunition-loaded site as the wind picked up. The fire broke out on Wednesday evening at the former military training area in the Teltow-Fläming district.
On Friday, a danger report was issued to the population because of the smoke development. Citizens from more distant areas reported because they saw clouds of smoke, Engel said.
Forest fire near Bad Liebenwerda in southern Brandenburg
A forest fire also broke out near Bad Liebenwerda (Elbe-Elster district) on Saturday morning. A spokesman for the regional fire brigade control center said that around three hectares of forest were affected. “The fire is under control. A spread has been prevented for now.”
The forest area in the eastern area of Bad Liebenwerda has been identified as a suspected ordnance area, said the spokesman for the regional control center in Cottbus. The fire brigade can extinguish the fire from the ground. There is no danger that the fire will spread to localities.
Last summer there was a big forest fire in Elbe-Elster. Two towns that belong to the town of Bad Liebenwerda had to be evacuated for a short time.
The risk of forest fires in Brandenburg is still high. “That will not change in the coming week either,” said Engel.