Fire Season Alert: Increasing Risk of Forest Fires Due to Dry Conditions

The onset of the forest fire season in Brandenburg is marked by a lack of rainfall and dry soil conditions, raising concerns among monitoring agencies regarding the heightened risk of forest fires. The state's forest fire monitoring centers are now fully operational, tasked with overseeing approximately 1.1 million hectares of woodland.

Officials have expressed worries over the situation, particularly as February saw minimal precipitation, and March has thus far continued the trend of dry weather. The topsoil is drying out, which significantly increases the risk of wildfires.

The forest fire season extends from March through the end of September. With Brandenburg's extensive pine forests and sandy soils, it is classified as a particularly dry region. There are plans to increase the proportion of deciduous trees in the area to help combat these conditions.

As of Friday, the forest fire danger level in Brandenburg was classified as moderate, sitting at danger level 3. The German Weather Service has also indicated that no significant rainfall is expected in the region on Monday, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 16 degrees Celsius, particularly in southern Brandenburg.

To enhance fire prevention measures, new water supply wells are currently being drilled in various forests. Additionally, a forest fire competence center was established in Wünsdorf, located in the Teltow-Fläming district, in December of the previous year. This center began operations with three staff members and aims to undertake foundational work in forest fire prevention and management.

The competence center is part of the State School for Fire and Disaster Protection in Wünsdorf. Brandenburg's Prime Minister had announced the establishment of this center in January 2023, emphasizing its role in improving prevention strategies, operational planning, and coordination among various organizations involved in forest fire management.

Last year's forest fire season was relatively mild, with only 196 reported incidents in Brandenburg, a stark contrast to previous years. For instance, 2022 was deemed an extreme year with 523 fires affecting 1,426 hectares of land.

The state forestry enterprise monitors the woodlands of Brandenburg using 105 sensors. Data collected from these sensors is analyzed at two forest fire monitoring centers located in Eberswalde and Wünsdorf.