10.05.2022, Brandenburg, Lieberose: Funktechnik sowie eine Kamera sind auf dem Dach eines Feuerwachturmes nahe Lieberose vom Landesbetrieb Forst Brandenburg angebracht (Luftaufnahme mit einer Drohne). Mit den steigenden Temperaturen hat in Brandenburg die Gefahr von Waldbränden stark zugenommen. (zu dpa: ««Da ist was» - Sensoren als scharfes Auge zur Waldbrandüberwachung») Foto: Patrick Pleul/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

A forest fire has broken out in the Lieberoser Heide. According to the Brandenburg forest fire protection officer Raimund Engel, the fire blazes on Monday over an area of ​​about ten hectares. The fire brigade is trying to contain the fire with a large contingent. So far, the fire has not spread, said Engel.

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The work is made more difficult because the area is contaminated with ordnance. A fire-fighting helicopter of the Federal Police is in use. A police helicopter flies over the area with a thermal imaging camera to reconnoiter the situation. A new pump system should also be used to bring the water to the area.

At the end of June 2019, a fire raged on 100 hectares of the former military training area in the Lieberoser Heide. It took a week for the fire to be extinguished. The danger there remains high with the great drought and the current temperatures.

Brandenburg has the largest proportion of munitions contaminated areas in Germany. There are conversion areas – areas that are burdened by the withdrawal of Russian troops – as well as areas that were once used for military purposes. Ordnance from the Second World War is still suspected on 350,000 hectares.

There was also another fire on Sunday at the Saxon-Brandenburg state border. The police said on Monday that a fire had spread over about 1.5 hectares near Arzberg in the district of North Saxony. Volunteer fire brigades from Saxony and Brandenburg could have prevented further spread.

According to the fire department, self-ignition is unlikely. The police are now investigating arson. The extent of the damage was still unclear.