Wildfires in eastern Germany injure firefighters and force evacuations

BERLIN (AP) — Wildfires eastern Germany have severely injured two firefighters and forced the evacuation of more than 100 residents.

Nearly 500 firefighters were battling the fires that broke out Tuesday in Gohrischheide on the border between the eastern states of Saxony and Brandenburg.

One female and one male firefighter suffered burns and were seriously injured.

The fires have burned hundreds of hectares (miles) and were still not under control Thursday and a state police helicopter equipped with special cameras to detect pockets of embers was deployed, German news agency dpa reported.

Firefighters were having difficulty getting close to the flames because parts of the wildfires were on a former military training area where there is a risk of ammunition detonating.

The villages of Heidehäuser and Neudorf and parts of the village of Lichtensee were evacuated. Residents received mobile phone alerts directing them to only take essentials, especially identification and cash. The notice advised them to inform neighbors and “cover your mouth and nose with improvised respiratory protection (cloth, piece of clothing, surgical mask).”

District officials called on people traveling by car to avoid the region.

Severe heat in Germany and elsewhere across Europe in recent days has plagued residents and led to several wildfires across the continent.