Elevated forest fire risk present in Brandenburg, with the border situation remaining steady.
In a critical development, the wildfire in Gohrischheide, situated on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, has been burning for six days, covering approximately 2,100 hectares as of July 7, 2025. The blaze began on July 1 and has since posed significant challenges to firefighting teams.
Nearly 555 emergency personnel, including firefighters, the Technical Relief Agency, Bundeswehr soldiers, and police, have been actively engaged in combating the flames. They have been using specialized firefighting units, helicopters, and even police water cannons to suppress the fire. However, the fire's location in a former military training area poses a risk of unexploded ammunition, forcing firefighting teams to maintain a safe distance and often operate from vehicles rather than directly attacking the fire.
Evacuations have been carried out in nearby villages such as Heidehäuser, Neudorf, and parts of Lichtensee. Residents have been advised to take only essentials and use improvised respiratory protection against smoke. Over 100 residents have been evacuated, and district officials have requested travelers to avoid the region due to the ongoing danger and smoke.
The wind has contributed to the spread of smoke as far as Berlin, causing smoke and odor disturbances in multiple Brandenburg districts. The district of Elbe-Elster, due to its proximity to the fire, may be particularly vulnerable to forest fires. The forest fire danger in Elbe-Elster is currently at a level higher than the second-highest level in other Brandenburg districts.
Forest fire expert Raimund Engel sees no unusualness in the detection of smoke in Berlin and Potsdam, as 100 kilometers is not a significant distance. However, he has stated that currently, no forest in Brandenburg is affected. The high number of forest fires in Brandenburg since March suggests an increased risk of forest fires in the region. If not contained, the ongoing wildfire in Gohrischheide could potentially lead to more widespread forest fires in Brandenburg.
Weather has complicated firefighting efforts. High temperatures and wind shifts, especially over the weekend, have worsened the situation, spreading smoke as far as Berlin. Firefighters are hopeful for rain forecasted on Monday and Tuesday, which could assist in controlling the wildfire.
Authorities continue to monitor and respond actively, prioritizing containment while managing safety risks from the site’s military history. It is crucial for residents and travellers to heed the warnings and advisories issued by local authorities.
- The ongoing wildfire in Gohrischheide, despite not currently affecting forests in Brandenburg, has raised concern for an increased risk of forest fires in the region due to the high number of fires detected since March.
- In light of the ongoing wildfire in Gohrischheide, environmental science and weather forecasting are crucial in predicting potential widespread forest fires, and understanding how climate change may be influencing such events.
- As firefighters battle the complex conditions brought about by high temperatures, wind shifts, and unexploded ammunition in the former military training area, they rely on the latest advancements in environmental-science, climate-change studies, and weather-forecasting technologies to combat and contain the wildfire, ensuring both the safety of the community and the preservation of the environment.
