Forest fire record in Brandenburg: 2022 the second most fires in 20 years

In 2022, more than 500 forest fires occurred in Brandenburg, the second highest number in the 20-year history of automated forest fire early detection. According to the forest fire statistics of the Brandenburg Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection, only nine of these fires were larger than 10 hectares (1.8%) and only four fires were larger than 100 hectares (0.8%). The recent large fires in Jüterbog (Brandenburg) and Lübtheen (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) and more were detected early by the IQ FireWatch system. The wide spread of the fires is due to the presence of ammunition contamination in the affected areas. Ground-based fire-fighting operations are limited due to the high risk to emergency services.

Despite the enormous danger posed by each individual fire, it can be said that the entire chain of measures from forest fire prevention to forest fire fighting is very advanced and efficient, with early detection as the connecting element. Germany, and Brandenburg in particular, are therefore a role model for many forest fire-prone regions around the world.

More information about the forest fire statistics 2022 can be found here. (GER)