Nfter an explosion at a police detonation site in Berlin’s Grunewald forest, the adjacent forest caught fire and the fire is spreading. More explosions keep happening. The regional, long-distance and S-Bahn traffic are interrupted, as the railway announced on its website. The Avus motorway between Spanish Allee and Hüttenweg is blocked in both directions, as is Kronprinzessinnenweg and Havelchaussee, according to the Berlin traffic center.
The Berlin fire brigade assumes that the fire in Grunewald will keep them busy throughout the day. There is still an “enormous danger” from explosions and flying debris for the emergency services, a fire brigade spokesman told NTV on Thursday morning.
The fire brigade retreated to around 1000 meters around the flames. The fire therefore continues to blaze uncontrollably. The fire is said to have been triggered by an explosion at a police detonation site in Grunewald early in the morning. According to the fire department, explosive ordnance and fireworks, among other things, are stored there. The fire brigade urgently warned the population not to enter the forest on Thursday. The area is cordoned off over a large area.
There are 100 firefighters and police officers on site. Other forces and special forces of the Bundeswehr are requested.
The fire is currently affecting an area of around 1.5 hectares, i.e. around 15,000 square meters. This also includes the area of the detonation site, said a fire department spokesman. It can be assumed that the high level of drought in the area will affect the further course of the fire, it said. The heat expected for Thursday will primarily cause problems for the emergency services.
“We are currently in the consultation and observation phase,” the spokesman said. According to a police spokesman, it is still completely unclear how the explosion could have happened. Found ammunition is stored on the square and defused in a controlled manner by the explosive ordnance disposal service of the Berlin police.
The authorities warn the population about the major fire on the warning apps and called on them to avoid the danger area. Residents should keep windows and doors closed. Ventilation and air conditioning should be turned off. However, residential areas are not in danger. “We will prevent that,” said a spokesman for the fire department on Thursday morning. The nearest residential buildings are at least two kilometers away. Transport infrastructure is also not affected. So far there have been no injuries.
