Wind has rekindled forest fire: fighting from the air

Smoke rises from a wooded area near Jüterbog. © Sven Kaeuler/TNN/dpa

Strong winds have rekindled the forest fire that broke out a week ago near Jüterbog on Wednesday, according to the operations management. The plan is to fight the fire on the former military training area from the air again. A helicopter of the Federal Police and a fire-fighting aircraft should arrive on Wednesday, said head of operations Rico Valentin.

Jüterbog - After an initially more relaxed situation, stronger winds came up in the morning than in the past few days. "All of a sudden, we had a bright fire," Valentin said. There had been a strong and rapid spread of the fire.

"This is a battle against windmills," said the head of operations. "There's just no end in sight." The fire in the ammunition-contaminated area broke out on Wednesday evening last week. Due to the risk of explosion in the area, the fire brigade cannot get directly to the sources of the fire.

On Wednesday, the fire brigade keeps a path a few meters wide wet so that the fire does not spread to another area. A measuring drone is also being used to gain insights into the extent of the fire. Valentin did not initially provide information on the affected area on Wednesday afternoon.

Last week, firefighting planes and a helicopter were already in use, but not since the weekend. On Tuesday, the situation in the forest fire area was more relaxed. Dpa