Around 350 emergency services are fighting the flames on site. It could take days for the fire to be under control, according to the Elbe-Elster district.
The large forest and field fire near Falkenberg/Elster in the Elbe-Elster district is still not under control. As a spokesman for the Lausitz control center told rbb on Tuesday morning, the focus shifted towards the Lönnewitz industrial park during the night.
The fire spread massively, mainly due to flying sparks. The area is partially contaminated with ammunition. The situation was “very tense,” it said.
The district of Elbe-Elster informed in the morning that the area is now 850 hectares and 350 people are deployed. At the moment it is not clear when the fire will be under control. It is expected to take several days, it said.
In the local recreation area Kiebitz, a bathing ban has been issued in order to secure water extraction for the fire-fighting helicopters. In addition, the B 183 between Kötten and Marxdorf has been closed. A diversion via Herzberg will be set up.
Pig fattening facility partially burned down / Wildfire in Falkenberg
The villages of Rehfeld, Kölsa and Kölsa-Siedlung have been evacuated according to the control center. Around 600 people are affected. Due to the turning wind, Lönnewitz also had to be evacuated, which affected 40 residents, said district fire chief Steffen Ludewig.
The fire also partially burned down a pig fattening facility in the Kölsa settlement. Several animals died, according to the spokesman for the control center.
Over 350 emergency services in action
There are currently 350 emergency services from the districts of Elbe-Elster, Potsdam-Mittelmark, Spree-Neisse and Oberspreewald-Lausitz fighting the fire. At least seven emergency services were injured, six of them were taken to the hospital. Further forces – also from Saxony – were requested, it was said. Two Bundeswehr helicopters are also to be deployed during the day.
Rail traffic between Leipzig and Cottbus interrupted
Due to the forest fire in the Elbe-Elster district, Deutsche Bahn has interrupted rail traffic between Leipzig and Cottbus. The section between Torgau and Falkenberg on line RE10 is affected, said a railway spokesman for the German Press Agency on Tuesday morning.
The stops are omitted because the fire brigade is on duty there due to an embankment fire. Alternatively, buses should run between Falkenberg and Torgau. According to the spokesman, the train service should remain interrupted until midday.
Wind could fuel fires further
In the fight against the forest fire, the weather should not be of much help on Tuesday either. Although local showers are to be expected in the afternoon, it is unclear whether they will also reach the affected forest area, a spokeswoman for the German Weather Service (DWD) told the German Press Agency on Tuesday morning. In addition, little precipitation is expected. Wind gusts of up to 60 kilometers per hour are to be expected, especially in the vicinity of showers, which could further ignite the fire.
The fire broke out Monday afternoon. It had spread rapidly due to violent gusts of wind. The district classified the fire as a major damage situation.
Brandenburg has been affected by forest and wildfires several times this year.
The Brandenburg police reported on Monday that the Lausitz rescue center had informed about a fire in the Kölsa area at the weekend. The forest floor burned over an area of 20 x 20 meters. Traces have been secured. The police initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of arson.
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