Firefighters managed to control a forest fire in the Müritz National Park in northeastern Germany by creating water barriers to stop the spread of the flames.
These barriers moisten the soil and trees in the unburned parts of the forest, creating a buffer zone that prevents the fire from spreading further. Water spraying continued throughout the evening.
A spokesperson for the Mecklenburg Lake District said the fire had burned approximately 388 hectares and was being battled by about 370 firefighters. A firefighting helicopter that had been supporting the operations has now completed its mission.
The spokesman said the fire had spread due to the lack of rain so far, with westerly winds fanning the flames even further.
Authorities said the smoke continued to recede, indicating the fire was becoming less active, but urged tourists to stay away from the area.
Firefighting efforts were complicated because part of the affected area is a former military training ground that may contain unexploded ordnance. Therefore, active firefighting operations were limited to the eastern part of the site, while police water hoses and a specialized fire unit from the neighboring state of Lower Saxony were deployed to assist.
