Saxony enlists Brandenburg's aid in tackling forest blazes
The Gohrischheide wildfire, located on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, has been burning for over six days and has affected approximately 2,100 hectares of land. The fire started on Tuesday, and despite the efforts of over 555 personnel from various emergency services, the cause remains unknown.
The firefighting operation includes the use of helicopters, with Brandenburg assuming responsibility for air coordination from the federal police and the military. The Bundeswehr, fire departments, the Technical Relief Agency, and law enforcement are all involved in the efforts, alongside a specialized unit from Mansfeld-Südharz in Saxony-Anhalt.
The fire's proximity to a military training area has presented challenges, as unexploded ordnance poses significant risks, forcing firefighters to maintain a safe distance and often operate from vehicles. The fire has also caused munitions to detonate, adding to the dangers faced by emergency responders.
Both Saxony and Brandenburg are collaborating in the firefighting efforts. The Meißen district office in Saxony is coordinating responses, while the region's military and emergency services are contributing to the containment efforts.
Meanwhile, in Brandenburg, Kosilenzien, a village located directly on the state border, is being closely monitored due to the approaching fire from Gohrischheide. Martin Neumann, the incident commander of the Liebenwerda administrative community, has confirmed that they are monitoring the situation in Kosilenzien. Despite the fire's advance, as of now, there is no danger in Kosilenzien, and the state remains unaffected by the Gohrischheide fire.
Brandenburg is also providing aid to neighbouring Saxony, dispatching an automated fire truck to the Gohrischheide fire. This assistance comes amidst ongoing wildfires in eastern Germany, with significant fires also reported in Thuringia. A total of 1,000 emergency personnel have been deployed across the region to combat these fires.
The German Weather Service has warned of potential additional fires due to ongoing heatwave conditions, though some relief is expected with rain forecasted for the week. Let's hope that the combined efforts of the emergency services in Saxony and Brandenburg can bring the Gohrischheide wildfire under control soon.
Despite the ongoing wildfires in the region, Brandenburg is offering aid to neighboring Saxony by dispatching an automated fire truck to help fight the Gohrischheide fire. The collaboration between both states in the firefighting efforts includes the participation of Brandenburg's environmental-science institutes, which can contribute valuable insights to the understanding and management of the lingering wildfire and its potential impact on the science of wildfire ecology.
