Wartime ammo risk as wildfire spreads near Berlin

Unexploded World War II bombs hamper efforts to battle massive wildfires rampaging through a German forest

  • A wildfire the size of more than 500 football pitches is spreading near Berlin
  • Firefighters evacuated around 500 people from homes across three villages
  • Efforts to extinguish the flames have been complicated by buried Second World War ammunition that could explode in the flames

A wildfire that’s larger than 500 football pitches is spreading across Germany, leading to three villages south-west of Berlin to be evacuated. 

But efforts to extinguish the flames have been complicated by Second World War ammunition buried in the forests around Berlin which could explode in the fire.

‘The ammunition is very dangerous, because one cannot step on the ground and therefore one cannot get close to the fire,’ Brandenburg governor Dietmar Woidke said. 

Fire brigades try to extinguish a burning forest in Klausdorf, northeastern Germany

Forest fire raging 30 miles southwest of Berlin continued to spread overnight

Around 600 people were told to leave their houses in three neighbouring villages in Brandenburg state as about 300 firefighters battled the blaze from the air with water-bombing helicopters

Firefighters battle a wildfire near the village of Klausdorf

Authorities have evacuated 500 residents from three villages as a precaution

More than 500 people had to leave their homes on Thursday night as a result of the fire in the Treuenbrietzen region in Brandenburg,  30 miles outside Berlin.

‘The fire continues to be a big threat,’ Mr Woidke said. ‘But we will do everything to protect people’s property.’

Local lawmaker Christian Stein said there had already been several detonations due to the ammunition, and firefighters were not allowed to enter some areas.


  • Hundreds of far-Right activists – including a Hitler…


    Putin and Merkel share a drink in the sunshine as they…

Share this article

Authorities are trying to douse the flames in those areas with firefighting helicopters and water cannons.

The fire started on Thursday afternoon and spread quickly through the dry pine forests. By the evening, the authorities had evacuated the villages of Frohnsdorf, Klausdorf and Tiefenbrunnen.

‘Something like that, we didn’t even experience during the war,’ 76-year-old Anita Biedermann said as police told her to grab her jacket, ID and important medication from her home before taking her to a nearby gym for the night.

Firetrucks stand among smoke in a section of burning forest in southern Brandenburg state

Firetrucks shoot water towards a burning section of forest in Germany

A police water cannon sprays water into a forest near Treuenbrietzen

Grass burns in a section of forest in southern Brandenburg state

police helicopter carrying a water bucket flies over a smoldering section of forest in southern Brandenburg

A fire covering 400 hectares was as of the morning still not under control in a forest southwest of Berlin

Overnight, winds blew the smoke to Berlin, where people in some neighbourhoods were asked to keep their windows closed. Emergency services received calls from concerned Berliners who were woken by the strong smell of smoke.

More than 600 firefighters and soldiers were brought in to battle the fire. They were trying to cut trees in the forests to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Several roads were closed and local train operators stopped services in the area close to the fire.

More than 600 firefighters and soldiers were brought in to battle the fire

Flames rise from the remains of a burning tree trunk in a smoldering section of forest in southern Brandenburg state

A firetruck squirts water into a smoldering section of forest in southern Brandenburg state

Germany has seen a long hot summer with almost no rain, and large parts of the country are on high alert regarding possible wildfires.

Raimund Engel, who is in charge of forests in the state of Brandenburg, said 400 wildfires have already been reported this year.

‘I hope the weather will play along and the winds won’t increase again,’ he said. ‘We are yearning for rain.’

A forest is light by wildfires near the village Klausdorf

A police helicopter comes in to refill its water bucket as smoke rises from a section of forest behind during efforts to reign in a forest fire in southern Brandenburg

Source: Read Full Article