- Arson-triggered blaze extinguished at previous drill site in Jüterbog's outskirts.
A blaze at an old training site close to Jüterbog, Brandenburg, has been handled. Officials from the Brandenburg an der Havel regional control center affirmed that the fire is now contained. A gathering will be held in the morning to ponder on subsequent measures, such as inviting federal law enforcement and military personnel with firefighting helicopters.
The fire erupted the previous day for unclear reasons, engulfing approximately 8-9 hectares. Luckily, no settlements north of federal road 102 between Altes Lager and Klausdorf have been harmed.
Not the first occurrence of wildfires on the old training ground
Firefighting operations were momentarily stalled throughout the night. The place was adequately doused using a fire-fighting helicopter, reducing the chances of the fire's spread. Employees of Stiftung Naturlandschaften Brandenburg kept a watchful eye on the situation, with the initial report coming from rbb24.
In June 2023, firefighters were dispatched for several days due to a wildfire on the same old training ground. The presence of old ammunition beneath the surface impeded firefighting endeavors, preventing the fire department from directly reaching the fire's origin. The total affected area was more than 7 square kilometers, as per the incident commander.
The German Armed Forces could potentially be involved in the morning's meeting to discuss the next steps, considering the location of the fire near the old training site. Previous experiences show that wildfires on the training ground can be challenging, as demonstrated by the incident in June 2023 when old ammunition hindered firefighting efforts.
