Firefighters to go ‘on the attack’ to tackle large wildfire in Germany
The blaze in Luebtheen, about 106 miles north west of Berlin, is the biggest in the history of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania state, officials said.
Firefighters, soldiers and civil defence personnel are battling a large wildfire at an area used for military exercises in northern Germany after weeks of dry weather.
The blaze in Luebtheen, about 170 kilometres (106 miles) north west of Berlin, is the biggest in the history of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania state, officials said.
Stefan Sternberg, who heads the district administration, said some 600 hectares (1,483 acres) of forest and brush are affected.
Mr Sternberg said firefighters managed to contain the fire overnight and are now planning to go “on the attack”.
Water is being diverted from the Elbe river and the military has deployed helicopters to tackle the blaze.
Germany has seen little rain lately during a Europe-wide heatwave.
Authorities said the wildfire risk is strongest in the north east.
