As of: 06/13/2023 8:06 p.m
The situation in the two forest fire areas in southwest Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has hardly changed over the course of the day. In the evening, District Administrator Sternberg gave the all-clear. The measures seem to be working. There will initially be no evacuation of Trebs.
Around 100 hectares of forest are still affected by the fire on the former military training area near Lübtheen. District Administrator Stefan Sternberg was out and about in the forest fire area on Tuesday evening. “It looks like a lunar landscape, like on another planet,” says Sternberg in the NDR Nordmagazin. “But I can say that our forest aisles are holding up at the moment.” In large parts, the fire came directly to the aisles. There are many fallen pine trees that are cleared by the emergency services. There is enough water thanks to the use of fire-fighting helicopters and the wells that have been built. “It seems to be a concept that is working at the moment.” Sternberg said he could give the all-clear for the area around the village of Trebs. “The measures we introduced this afternoon worked.” Preparations for an evacuation from Trebs would initially be halted. The wind, which has freshened up again, will be challenging in the coming night.
Evacuation from Volzrade remains in place for the time being
The evacuation for Volzrade will remain in place for the time being. The people from Volzrade had to leave their homes on Monday evening. The fire is only 500 meters away from the village. According to Sternberg, between Volzrade and Trebs the firefighters can only act from the air with a fire-fighting helicopter. That is why the situation there is more tense than in other places.
Situation in Hagenow more stable than in Lübtheen
The fire in the forest fire area near Hagenow had expanded from 35 to 45 hectares overnight. Nevertheless, the operations management assesses the situation at Hagenow as more stable than at Lübtheen, since there is much less deadwood in the Viezer Heide to feed the fire. Since midday, a Bundeswehr armored recovery vehicle has been cutting wide aisles around the burning area. Sternberg assumes that this work can be completed in the evening. In both fire areas, detonations of old ammunition lying in the ground could be heard again and again. Due to the risk of explosion, the fire brigade cannot extinguish the fire in the area. They confine themselves to keeping the aisles moist with as much water as possible.
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State government praises fire service
During a visit to Lübtheen, Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) said it was reassuring to see how everything went hand in hand. The fire was more complicated, but the technical equipment was better than in 2019. She thanked the fire brigades for responding so quickly – that was also a consequence of the major fire four years ago. Arson is not assumed. On Tuesday morning, the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania also recognized the efforts of the fire brigades and helpers. “What the men and women are doing there deserves our utmost respect,” said State President Birgit Hesse (SPD) to applause from the MPs. She also expressed the sympathy of the parliamentarians to the residents of the places threatened by the fires.
Infrastructure improved since last fire
After the devastating forest fire in 2019 in the Lübtheen region, aisles were cut in the forest there. The sand strips without plants are intended to prevent the fire from spreading. In addition, numerous deep wells were drilled and so-called circular sprinklers were purchased, which are now in use.
Deadwood provides fuel for flames
District Administrator Sternberg had declared a disaster for Lübtheen on Monday evening. The situation is different than four years ago, when there had been a fire in the same place for weeks. Compared to the devastating fire in 2019, the fire near Lübtheen is heating up even deeper soil layers this time, according to operations manager Stefan Geier from the Ludwigslust-Parchim district fire brigade association. That’s why ammunition exploded that wasn’t triggered back then. According to Geier, an ammunition recovery operation should begin in the affected areas in the coming week – but the fire preempted the evacuation. In 2019, the largest forest fire in the history of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania raged on almost 1,000 hectares on the former military training area near Lübtheen.
Fire in Crivitz extinguished after three hours
A fire also broke out in Crivitz on Monday around 6 p.m. near the Waldschlösschen. According to the fire department, there was a fire in around one hectare of forest. The six fire brigades deployed were able to fight the fire quickly. The operation ended around 9 p.m.
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