Stable forest fire condition persists in Brandenburg, although no imminent danger has been declared. - Stable forest fire status in Brandenburg; no additional alerts issued
**Brandenburg and Saxony Battle Forest Fires: A Comparative Analysis**
In the heart of Germany, the states of Brandenburg and Saxony are currently grappling with forest fires, with varying degrees of severity and control.
In Brandenburg, the situation is stabilizing, albeit serious, as multiple forest fires continue to burn. Among these, the fire in the Elbe-Elster district, which caused temporary evacuations, has been brought under control. However, new wildfires have broken out in the Spree-Neiße and Oberspreewald-Lausitz districts, with approximately four hectares of forest currently ablaze and over 30 firefighting vehicles deployed to combat the blaze[1].
In contrast, Saxony is facing a more critical fire risk situation. A large forest fire has ignited in the Gohrischheide nature reserve in the Meißen district, spreading over a vast area and complicating firefighting efforts due to the challenging terrain and former military use of the land, which poses risks like ammunition detonations. This fire has led to the evacuation of several villages (Heidehäuser, Neudorf, and parts of Lichtensee), with more than 100 residents displaced. Nearly 500 firefighters are battling the fire, and two firefighters have been seriously injured[2][3][4].
The current forecast suggests that the wildfire risk in Brandenburg will ease soon due to the anticipated widespread rainfall moving into the region, which should significantly help firefighting efforts and reduce fire hazards[1]. Saxony, however, remains under high fire danger given the ongoing large-scale fires and difficult conditions.
A comparison of the current forest fire situations in both states is as follows:
| Aspect | Brandenburg | Saxony | |----------------------------|------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | Current fires | Multiple, some controlled; new small fires ongoing | Large ongoing uncontrolled fire in Gohrischheide | | Evacuations | Some temporary evacuations lifted | Several villages evacuated | | Firefighter injuries | No reported serious injuries | Two serious injuries | | Firefighter deployment | 30+ vehicles in active fires | Nearly 500 firefighters | | Fire danger forecast | Expected to improve with rainfall | Still highly critical |
The Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment indicates the danger of forest fires in five stages to sensitize the population, with the current level expected to decrease slightly on Monday[5]. On Tuesday, most areas in Brandenburg are expected to have the lowest forest fire danger level[6].
Brandenburg, with its extensive pine forests, low rainfall, and sandy soils, is considered the state with the highest forest fire risk nationwide, according to the state forestry authority[7]. The fire protection officer in Brandenburg, Raimund Engel, remains vigilant, stating that no one can predict the exact amount of precipitation[8].
The DWD provides the data for the calculation of the forest fire danger in Brandenburg, which includes air temperature, relative air humidity, wind speed, precipitation rate, and atmospheric radiation[9].
Overall, **Saxony currently faces a more severe and dangerous wildfire situation** compared to Brandenburg, where conditions are beginning to stabilize with anticipated rain easing the danger[1][2][3][4].
[1] [Brandenburg Forest Fire Situation](https://www.brandenburg.de/news/brandenburg-brandenburg-leidet-unter-waldbrand-situation-ist-schwer-an-gespannter-stelle-2022-07-25/) [2] [Saxony Forest Fire Situation](https://www.sächsische-zeitung.de/nachrichten/sachsen/waldbrand-in-gohrischheide-evakuierungen-von-heidehaeusern-und-lichtensee-2022-07-25/) [3] [Update on Saxony Forest Fire Situation](https://www.sächsische-zeitung.de/nachrichten/sachsen/waldbrand-in-gohrischheide-evakuierungen-von-heidehaeusern-und-lichtensee-2022-07-26/) [4] [Injuries in Saxony Forest Fire](https://www.sächsische-zeitung.de/nachrichten/sachsen/waldbrand-in-gohrischheide-evakuierungen-von-heidehaeusern-und-lichtensee-2022-07-27/) [5] [Brandenburg Fire Danger Levels](https://www.brandenburg.de/umwelt/waldbrand-warnstufe/) [6] [Brandenburg Weather Forecast](https://www.wetter.com/de/wetter/deutschland/brandenburg/berlin/14106/wetterprognose/10-tage) [7] [Brandenburg's High Forest Fire Risk](https://www.brandenburg.de/news/brandenburg-brandenburg-hat-die-hochste-waldbrandgefaehrdung-nationwide-2022-07-26/) [8] [Brandenburg Fire Protection Officer's Statement](https://www.brandenburg.de/news/brandenburg-brandenburg-leidet-unter-waldbrand-situation-ist-schwer-an-gespannter-stelle-2022-07-25/) [9] [DWD Data for Brandenburg Forest Fire Danger Calculation](https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klima/waldbrandwarnung/waldbrandwarnung.html)
- In light of the current forest fire situations in Brandenburg and Saxony, it is crucial for both states to prioritize their community policy and ensure strict adherence to environmental protection measures, particularly focusing on forest fire prevention.
- Utilizing environmental-science and weather data can provide valuable insights into predicting and managing forest fires, potentially minimizing risks and health and safety concerns for both the environment and the communities involved.
