Truly across country, the THW laid a 5.3 km water pipeline from the Elbe to Kötten Photo: THW Landesverband Sachsen, Thuringia
From the BZ editorial team
The forest fires in southern Brandenburg on the border with Saxony have been raging for eight days. 800 ha are affected. To ensure that the extinguishing work can continue, the THW showed what it can do on Saturday: it built a water pipeline over 5.3 km from the Elbe near Strehla to Kötten.
The long way of the water leads over harvested fields, through existing corn fields. The water is collected and pumped on again and again in intermediate basins. Fire engines and helicopters can now operate from the end basin.
Eleven local branches of the THW from three federal states are deployed on site. A total of 250 emergency services are active in the area – including the Bundeswehr.
Drones are currently using thermal cameras to search for embers on approx. 500 hectares. The “major damage situation” will be decided again at the beginning of the week. It makes it possible to request emergency services from other areas. The Elbe-Elster district: “The weather forecasts during the week, which see a high risk of forest fires, continue to cause concern.”
Eleven local sections of THW from three federal states are deployed in northern Saxony – including Rudolstadt/Saalefeld, Eilenburg, Plauen, Borna and Leipzig Photo: THW Landesverband Sachsen, Thuringia