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Difficult use: Flames hit the sky at Treuenbrietzen
Photo: Jörg Carstensen / dpa
Around 60 hectares of forest are on fire near the small town of Treuenbrietzen, southwest of Berlin.
This was reported by the spokeswoman for the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark, Andrea Metzler.
The area corresponds to 84 soccer fields.
According to her, the fire brigade, police, army and technical relief organization (THW) were deployed with a total of 380 forces.
A massive cloud of smoke can be seen as far south as Brandenburg, said forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel.
The use of the firefighters could be difficult because it is also an area in the suspected explosive ordnance area, Engel explained: "There have already been detonations." That is why the extinguishing work can only be carried out from the edge.
Engel assumes that the extinguishing work will continue on Saturday.
"One can only hope that the wind will calm down a bit."
Major fire already in 2018
Civil protection warned the population in the area around Treuenbrietzen, Linthe and Niemegk to keep windows and doors closed.
The district spokeswoman described the situation as dynamic.
"The wind is changing, it's very dry again," said Metzler.
So far, however, no towns are in danger, she emphasized.
The federal highway 102 was closed because of the operation.
In 2018, flames raged in the wooded area in Treuenbrietzen for several days.
Around 400 hectares of forest were destroyed.
Because of the great fire, more than 500 people had to leave their villages.
According to Engel, areas that burned at the time are currently being affected again.
atb/dpa