A forest fire near the town of Bilitz, Brandenburg, has been out of control since Sunday afternoon - up to 200 hectares of forest are burning there. This was reported by radio rbb24.

As noted, hundreds of local residents had to leave their homes. The fire spread very quickly. About 1000 representatives of emergency services fought the flames and helicopters were used.

Traffic of some regional trains was suspended. The day before in Brandenburg there were 12 more major fires.

Brandenburg's Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke assesses the situation as more dangerous than in late summer 2018, when the forest was also on fire.