Heat and drought: highest forest fire warning level gilded throughout Brandenburg
heat and drought
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Highest forest fire warning level gilded throughout Brandenburg
Persistent drought and a first heat wave: The highest of the five forest fire warning levels has now been declared for the whole of Brandenburg. It is not certain whether a thunderstorm on Sunday will relax the situation emotionally.
The danger of forest fires due to the ongoing drought is very high in Brandenburg at the weekend. On Saturday morning, according to information of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection [mluk.brandenburg.de] the highest of the five warning levels in all districts.
“The fire brigades are well prepared and have prepared for the weather conditions,” said forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel on Friday. It is not yet possible to estimate whether the situation on Sunday will ease somewhat as a result of a thunderstorm front forecast by the German Weather Service (DWD), Engel continues.
At Frohnsdorf near Treuenbrietzen (Potsdam-Mittelmark), the fire brigade, police, armed forces and technical relief organization had to move out to a larger brand on Friday. The fire had spread to about 60 hectares.
The use of the firefighters could be difficult because it is also about areas in the suspected explosive ordnance area, explained Engel. Areas are affected where there was already a fire in 2018. District Administrator Marko Köhler (SPD) told rbb that he assumed that the extinguishing work could continue throughout the weekend.
On Sunday up to 37 degrees summer heat
It’s supposed to get hot in Berlin and Brandenburg at the weekend. In the north of Brandenburg, the DWD expects maximum values between 29 and 32 degrees and between 32 and 35 degrees in Berlin and in the south of Brandenburg. With temperatures between 29 and 37 degrees, the warmest day of the year so far in Berlin and Brandenburg is expected on Sunday. From the afternoon to evening, there will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms in some areas.
The forest authority does not want to block any forests because of the danger, emphasized the country’s forest fire protection officer. However, he pointed out that the smoking and fire ban in the forest still applies. Parking near the numerous lakes at the edge of the forest could be expensive for bathers. At the highest level of danger, the forest authority imposes fines. Engel once again appealed to keep the legally required 50-meter distance to the forest when barbecuing. A discarded cigarette butt from the car can already lead to an embankment fire. “Every little spark can lead to a catastrophe.”
Already more than 200 forest fires this year
According to the Ministry of the Environment, the second highest risk level (4) and thus a high risk of forest fires applied to nine districts on Friday, while the middle level (3) applied to five districts. “The expected reflection does not reflect the actual risk situation,” said the forest fire protection officer.
Already on Friday morning there was a fire in the municipality of Märkische Heide (Dahme-Spreewald). The extent of the fire was still unclear. The forest fires of the past few days have all been less than one hectare. A total of over 200 fires have been registered since the beginning of the forest fire season. The season in Brandenburg runs from March to the end of September. In addition, fires blaze again and again on grass and heathland.
Arson not uncommon
Thomas Meier, city forester in Brandenburg an der Havel, reported that nature was under drought stress. Summer has come from a dry spring and a tense situation, and no precipitation is expected until the end of June. It could be a difficult year, the forester estimated. Meier also sees a danger for the reforestation of the forests. “Drought is our main problem, every tree species has problems.” Young trees need rain to grow well. A massive problem is that arson is often behind the forest fires, said the forester.
The two forest fire control centers in Eberswalde (Barnim) and Zossen (Teltow-Fläming) are each occupied by five until the evening hours. 105 optical sensors on former fire lookout towers, observation towers and mobile phone masts react as an early warning system to the onset of fire. 53 of them alone are installed in the south and connected to each other via directional radio. They scan 360 degrees every six minutes for panoramic images.
Broadcast: rbb24 Brandenburg aktuell, June 17th, 2022, 7.30 p.m