Overview
- The wildfire broke out on the Gohrischheide former training area on Saturday afternoon and spread quickly across dry grass and dead wood before crews contained it to an enclosed section overnight.
- About 170–200 firefighters, two water‑dropping helicopters and an armoured firefighting vehicle from Saxony‑Anhalt were deployed to hold the blaze and work through the night.
- New measurements reported by local officials reduced the burned area estimate from an initial roughly 40 hectares to about 16 hectares.
- Parts of the site are contaminated with leftover munitions, which prevent firefighters from entering some zones and have forced reliance on aerial suppression and the armoured vehicle for safer access.
- Authorities say nearby villages were not immediately threatened, but they warn that forecast gusty winds and thunderstorms could trigger flare‑ups and prolong operations; the area also saw a major fire in 2025 that worsens fuel loads and risk.