Uncontained Fires Persist in Gohrischheide, East Germany (Saxony)
Hundreds of deployment forces, nearly 500 firefighters and emergency personnel, have been battling a large forest fire in the Gohrishcheide region on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg since it broke out on July 1, 2025. The fire has spread over approximately 2,100 hectares (around 4,940 acres) of forest.
The fires have been sparked and intensified by an ongoing severe heatwave sweeping across Europe, with temperatures approaching 40°C in the region, driven by an African anticyclone. The extreme heat has fueled the dry conditions, creating a high risk for wildfires.
As of July 5, the fire is still not under control, with about 650 emergency personnel actively fighting the blaze on Saturday. The fire is burning in a former military training area, complicating firefighting efforts due to the risk of unexploded ammunition detonations. This limits how close firefighters can safely get to some flames.
Two firefighters, one female and one male, have been seriously injured with burns while fighting the fire. Over 100 residents from nearby villages such as Heidehäuser, Neudorf, and parts of Lichtensee have been evacuated for safety. Mobile alerts have advised locals to take only essentials and to use improvised respiratory protection due to smoke.
A state police helicopter equipped with special cameras for detecting hidden embers is being used to support firefighting efforts. Authorities have requested travelers to avoid the region to facilitate emergency operations.
Firefighters continue their ground operations cautiously due to the dangers posed by the contamination of unexploded ordnance. Air support with helicopters detecting ember hotspots will help target firefighting resources more effectively. Evacuations and warnings will remain in place to protect residents and assist emergency access.
The ongoing mitigation depends largely on weather changes; any reduction in extreme heat and wind would aid containment efforts. In another fire area near Goesselsdorf, the fire services have successfully prevented further spread. The situation on the Brandenburg side of Gohrishcheide remains calm, as the fire has not yet jumped over. The fire near Goesselsdorf in the Thuringian district is currently under control.
In the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, the situation remains tense with fires continuing to break out. Firefighting helpers from Saxony-Anhalt and a firefighting robot from Brandenburg are supporting the operation. Helpers have created additional protective strips around the houses in the evacuated village of Jacobsthal using bulldozers and other heavy machinery. The situation in Jacobsthal was "stable" on Sunday afternoon.
The number of deployment forces in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district will be reduced from Monday. The German Armed Forces secured the Zeithain barracks against the fire using armored vehicles. Four firefighting helicopters from the German Armed Forces, Federal Police, and State Police are in action.
Firefighting helpers from Saxony-Anhalt and a firefighting robot from Brandenburg are also supporting the operation in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district. The district of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt reported "light relief" on Sunday, with three helicopters and over 600 deployment forces supporting the firefighting efforts.
The wind in the Gohrishcheide area is unpredictable, often picking up or changing direction, complicating firefighting efforts. The situation on the Saxon side remains tense, with the fire not yet extinguished. Despite the challenges, the dedicated efforts of the emergency services continue to hold back the flames and protect the local population.
Despite the efforts made by the emergency personnel to combat the forest fire in Gohrishcheide, the Commission has not yet adopted a decision regarding the deployment of additional resources. The extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures and unpredictable winds, continue to fuel the fires in general-news areas like Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, where accidents such as unexploded ammunition detonations pose an additional threat to those fighting the blazes.
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