Easter bonfires are a popular tradition. Due to the increased risk of forest fires, some fires have been canceled.
© dpa
The risk of forest fires remains high due to the drought - the first Easter fires are therefore canceled. In the Uckermark region and in Prignitz, for example, events planned for Maundy Thursday were canceled.
If the situation does not ease with plenty of rain, local authorities are likely to cancel Easter bonfires in the coming days. The German Weather Service (DWD) does not expect it to be very wet.
The Berlin Senate has called for Easter bonfires to be avoided due to the risk of forest fires. In Brandenburg, fire departments had to be called out several times in the past few days because the forest floor was on fire. Negligent arson is also being investigated.
In seven districts in the center and south of Brandenburg, the highest forest fire danger level 5 prevailed today - that means a very high danger. Level 4 applied almost everywhere in the western and northern regions, with only the district of Prignitz at a lower risk (level 3). Some municipalities announced that Easter bonfires were prohibited at forest fire danger level 4.
Will rain ease the situation? "I think that this will only improve the forest fire levels in isolated cases," said a DWD meteorologist about the outlook. It will only rain locally, but not across the board. "The amounts are not large." In addition to showers, there may also be isolated thunderstorms in the coming days. It won't be as warm.