Europe still ablaze: Firefighters continue to battle infernos across the continent as tourist regions and residential areas are evacuated
- Wildfire was spreading quickly in eastern German state of Brandenburg in a region with lots of pine forests
- Fire in the Elbe-Elster district has already destroyed an area of about 850 hectares and continued to spread
- Firefighters also battled a fire in a national park in northern Czech Republic that has spread to Saxony
- It broke out in the Bohemian Switzerland park on Sunday and was mostly contained before windy weather
Hundreds of firefighters continued to battle infernos across Europe including in eastern Germany, neighbouring Czechia and southern France, as tourist regions and residential areas were evacuated.
A large wildfire was spreading quickly in the eastern German state of Brandenburg in a region with lots of bone-dry pine forests where firefighters have to be especially careful because of old World War II ammunition that’s still buried there.
The large fire in the Elbe-Elster district has already destroyed an area of about 850 hectares and continued to spread quickly because of gusty winds blowing from changing directions.
Seven firefighters were injured, four of whom had to be treated in a hospital for smoke inhalation. No residents were injured, but a pig breeding farm burned down and several animals died.
The state’s explosive ordnance disposal service has designated a small area near the village of Rehfeld as a site where old ammunition could be buried, deputy forest fire protection officer Philipp Haase explained.
Two German military firefighting helicopters were on site trying to extinguish the flames from the air because firefighters were not allowed to access the area for fear that the ammunition could explode.
Authorities said it was not clear when the fire could be brought under control. More than 350 firefighters were battling the flames and around 300 people from various villages had to be evacuated.
Pedestrians look at a forest fire near Gignac, southern France, on July 26, as the country endures a dry summer with wildfires destroying numerous forests across France
Firefighters throw water on fire in the Ceske Svycarsko (Czech Switzerland) National Park, above the village Hrensko, Czech Republic, on July 25. The fire broke out on Sunday and started spreading on Monday as the wind rose
A firefighter works to contain a wildfire as it continues to burn in a forest near the town of Hrensko, Czech Republic
French Securite Civile Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft passes over burning forests near Gignac, southern France, on July 26
Firefighters from several countries have joined forces to battle a fire in a national park in northern Czech Republic that has spread to the state of Saxony in neighbouring Germany
The fire in the Bohemian Switzerland park broke out on Sunday and was mostly contained before windy weather caused it to spread again on Monday afternoon and overnight
‘The situation is still serious. We still have pockets of fire,’ local district fire chief Steffen Ludewig said.
Further southeast, firefighters from several countries have joined forces to battle a fire in a national park in northern Czech Republic that has spread to the state of Saxony in neighboring Germany.
The fire in the Bohemian Switzerland park broke out on Sunday and was mostly contained before windy weather caused it to spread again on Monday afternoon and overnight.
Despite their efforts, firefighters said the fire had spread from 30 hectares earlier Tuesday to 1,000 hectares.
No injuries have been reported, but around 100 people had to be evacuated Tuesday evening from the Czech town of Vysoka Lipa.
Earlier, some 80 people have been evacuated from the border town of Hrensko, and more from the village of Mezna, where the flames have destroyed or damaged several homes, firefighters’ spokesman Lukas Marvan said.
Despite their efforts, firefighters said the fire had spread from 30 hectares earlier Tuesday to 1,000 hectares
No injuries have been reported, but around 100 people had to be evacuated Tuesday evening from the Czech town of Vysoka Lipa
The forest is on fire in the Saxon Switzerland National Park near Schmilka, Germany. For Bad Schandau disaster alert has been triggered, said a spokesman for the district office Saechsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge on Tuesday morning
A Bell CH-53 German Bundeswehr army firefighter helicopter loads water from a sea in Falkenberg, Germany. Firefighters in Brandenburg continue to fight a large forest fire in the Elbe-Elster district. Since yesterday, it has been burning on an area of 800 hectares
Dozens of German children were evacuated from a summer camp on the Czech side of the border and transported back to Germany.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan were visiting the area on Tuesday.
Rakusan said some 400 firefighters have been in action and the blaze was not under control by midday Tuesday.
‘The situation is very serious,’ Rakusan said adding that several neighboring countries had responded to the Czech Republic’s call for help to extinguish the fire.
Poland and Slovakia said they were sending helicopters while Italy offered special Canadair planes designed for firefighting.
The German military announced it would send four helicopters to the border region to help fight the flames.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said the smoke has spread 60 miles or more from the fire.
A Civil Security Bombardier Dash 8-Q400MR firefighting aircraft drops fire-retardant over a forest fire near Gignac, southern France
General view of a forest fire near the city of Gignac, France, on July 26. 700 hectares have been burnt and 200 people were evacuated from the village of Aumelas
A man looks at a forest fire near the city of Gignac, France, on July 26. 700 hectares have been burnt and 200 people were evacuated from the village of Aumelas
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