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Large-scale forest fire on 35,000 m² of stubble: About 100 firefighters from several fire departments carry out a large-scale operation © Nord-West-Media TV
It takes about 100 firefighters from multiple fire departments to fight the massive wildfire. Spectators sometimes disturb firefighters in their work.
On Saturday evening, July 12, at around 19:00, a large forest fire broke out in the Twistringer district of Ussinghausen, putting nearly 100 emergency services from at least eight local fire stations on edge. Since the damaged, already harvested field with round bales on it is located in a purely agricultural area without a constant water supply, the alarm level had to be quickly raised in order to deliver sufficient water to the fire site with the help of numerous fire tankers in route traffic.
Work to extinguish the fire on an area of about 35,000 square meters was carried out extremely intensively, reports the news site Nord-West-Media TV. Rescuers would have to painstakingly drag hoses across the field, as well as extinguish the flames with fire bats to prevent the fire from spreading further.
At times there was an acute danger that the fire would cross the road and spread to another grain field. Two local farmers played a key role in averting this danger. They responded quickly and actively supported the firefighters, loosening the dry ground with tractors and cultivators, thereby depriving the flames of food.
Large stubble fires require calling the fire brigade: bystanders interfere with work – cause of fire unknown
Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is still completely unclear and, according to Twistringen fire department spokesman Jens Meyer, “somewhat hazy”, since there were no people or agricultural equipment in the field at the time of the outbreak. The police are investigating this. In addition to the heat and dryness – there have been several forest fires in the Diepholz area over the past few days due to lack of rain – rescuers were particularly concerned about reckless onlookers.
Numerous people rode along the narrow farm trails in cars, bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters, sometimes getting in the way of approaching emergency vehicles. The unreasonable driver complied with the request to turn the car around only after several conversations and finally threatened to report it to the police. However, the proverbial shining moment came from an onlooker who was forced to give way to a fire truck, veered off the road and became so stuck in a dirt road that his car flipped over on its own.
In view of the severe drought, in which even a small spark can cause a disaster, the fire service once again urges the public not to throw cigarette butts out of car windows, refrain from smoking outdoors and avoid open flames.