Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Villages on alert!

Forest fire in Gohrischheide: Villages on alert!

The forest fire in Gohrischheide, on the border between Saxony and Brandenburg, continues to have consequences for several towns in the area today, July 6, 2025. The situation is extremely dangerous, which is why the evacuations in Jacobsthal train station and Heidehäuser must be maintained. In the last few days the temperatures have risen and the wind has picked up, making the situation more dynamic. Radio Hochstift reports that around 700 emergency services, including volunteer fire brigades, the technical relief agency and the Bundeswehr, are involved in the extinguishing work.

The significant challenges facing the fire service should not be underestimated. “Developments with potentially detonating ammunition from former military uses make extinguishing fires on the ground extremely risky,” said the experts. Several firefighting helicopters and water cannons are being used to fight the flames. How MDR reports, the situation is particularly tense in Jacobsthal and Heidehäuser, while in Neudorf and Lichtensee there is stability, with only a few pockets of embers.

Evacuations and dangers

The evacuations don't just affect Jacobsthal. Around 100 people from Heidehäuser had to leave their homes last week. Meanwhile, further clusters of fires in the region continue to be monitored. The emergency services have set up special protective strips to prevent the fire from spreading to populated areas. These preventative measures are necessary because the dangers of possible re-ignition of the fire must not be underestimated.

The Gohrischheide nature reserve, once a military training area, has been severely affected. Satellite images show the extent of the fire, but the exact extent is contradictory: from 200 hectares at the district office to around 1,300 hectares according to Sachsenforst. The highest forest fire danger levels have been declared in the northern parts of Saxony, including Gohrischheide. Federal administration data show that the protection and preservation of forests in Germany is becoming increasingly important, especially in order to prevent such catastrophic fire events in the future.

outlook

The emergency services hope that the forecast rains on Monday and Tuesday could bring about a hoped-for turnaround in effectively containing the devastating forest fire. However, the weather remains critical, with temperatures up to 30 degrees and increasing winds. Meißen's district administrator Ralf Hänsel expressed his concern: "We have to do everything we can to ensure that the situation does not worsen any further." The emergency services are already preparing for all eventualities.

A Bundeswehr recovery vehicle is being used to expand a fire break in the forest in order to specifically cut off the path of further flames. The fire brigade and technical services are well prepared to extinguish the last remaining sources of fire and protect the population.