Wind pushes wildfire at ex-Soviet munitions site toward power line and ICE railway near Neustrelitz

Fire breaks out on munitions-contaminated ground

The fire started on Wednesday noon on a former Soviet tank firing range near Neustrelitz, inside the Müritz National Park. The area, heavily littered with unexploded ordnance including armour-piercing shells, cannot be entered by fire crews. Deputy fire chief Jörg Westphal said only three to four hectares were burning initially, but the fire grew rapidly. Firefighters were forced to stand back and let it burn, soaking the perimeter to prevent spread.

Firefighters face explosive hazards

The extreme danger from old munitions means no direct attack is possible. Landrat Thomas Müller of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte told NDR that even specialised firefighting tanks would not withstand the explosives.

The name already says it: that tank is not invulnerable to this kind of ordnance.

Old munitions can detonate from heat, and the fire in turn sets off more explosions. This cascade, combined with shifting winds, makes the blaze unpredictable. Fire crews maintain a safety cordon of 1,000 metres and rely on water barriers and circle sprinklers to contain it.

Overnight gains erased as flames rekindle

After the fire weakened Thursday night, with water barriers halting its western front, a morning drone survey appeared hopeful. But a wind shift to the south around Friday morning pushed the fire back to life and northwards. A county spokesperson said multiple small hotspots reignited, making the overall situation difficult to survey. The affected area has grown to about 130 hectares, with 160 firefighters deployed.

Wind shift threatens power and railway lines

By Friday afternoon, the fire was less than 200 metres from a high-voltage line and approaching an ICE railway track in the north. Utility Edis confirmed it had shut down the power line as a precaution, though no consumers were affected. A defensive line of sprinklers was extended in difficult terrain, with equipment carried in by hand. Westphal warned that if the fire reaches the tree crowns in a wooded northern section, chances to stop it become slim. A protective barrier is being erected along the railway.

The line was switched off by Edis.

What's next

The cause remains unknown, and investigators cannot enter the site. With more hot weather forecast, officials hope for rain, perhaps a summer thunderstorm. The fire is among the largest in the region in recent years. The situation remains dynamic, and the fire will not be declared out until drone imagery confirms no remaining hotspots.