Firefighting intensified as the Gohrischheide blaze continued to spread

Fire crews expanded their response on Sunday as a wildfire in the Gohrischheide reserve continued to challenge responders on munitions-laced ground near the Saxony-Brandenburg border.

The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, June 27, between Zeithain and the Elbe. By Sunday, officials said about 16 hectares had burned, and the operation had grown into a large emergency effort with more than 200 responders on scene.

Firefighting effort expands

Zeithain mayor Mirko Pollmer said about 215 responders were deployed on Sunday morning, with more expected later in the day. Officials also brought in a second firefighting helicopter to help work on hotspots from the air.

A later update said a second helicopter was confirmed in use, reflecting how the effort was shifting toward keeping flare-ups under control and preventing the fire from moving beyond the contained area.

Firefighters said the blaze remained contained within a limited zone, but the situation was still not stable. Crews were focused on holding the perimeter and preventing renewed spread.

Heat, wind and equipment strain

Pollmer said temperatures and gusty winds were making the operation harder. He also said some equipment was failing in the heat, adding to the strain on crews working in difficult conditions.

That weather pressure mattered because the fire was already burning in a landscape that is unusually hard to fight in. The Gohrischheide sits on former military land, and old ammunition contamination limits where firefighters can safely go.

Officials said that munitions risk kept parts of the blaze out of direct reach. In those areas, crews had to rely on aerial support and specialized equipment rather than standard ground tactics.

Public safety and response

For now, officials said nearby towns were not currently threatened. The immediate goal was to keep the fire confined and stop hotspots from flaring up again.

Fire crews also used a protected vehicle from Saxony-Anhalt because of the danger from old ammunition. The specialized vehicle was needed so responders could work more safely in parts of the reserve where ordinary equipment would be too exposed.

Raiko Riedel, a firefighter spokesperson, and Marco Bretschneider, the deputy fire chief in Zeithain, were among the officials tied to the response as crews tried to manage the fire through the night and into Sunday.

Longer-running concern

The Gohrischheide has been a recurring fire risk. The area saw a major wildfire in 2025, and regional debate over better fire protection and ammunition clearance has continued since then.

That broader concern was part of the reaction around this latest blaze. BSW Saxony criticized the lack of protected specialty equipment, arguing the region still lacks tools suited to fires in former military areas.

For now, the key questions are whether winds ease, whether rain arrives soon enough to help, and whether the added helicopter and protected ground vehicle are enough to keep the blaze within its current limits.