Berlin munitions dump blaze still active as explosion risk impedes fire crews

Military vehicles of the Bundswehr stand are seen on motorway A115 near the closed motorway access Huettenweg, due to an explosion in munitions depot in the Grunewald forest in Berlin, Germany August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Emergency services have stopped a fire at an ammunitions dump in a western Berlin forest from spreading further, but fire crews on Friday were still unable to approach the source of the blaze due to the risk that World War Two bombs might explode.

The blaze at the Grunewald forest dump broke out on Thursday and spread across 15,000 square meters. An armoured vehicle provided by the German army cut a 5 km (3 mile) fire break through the area overnight, said an army spokesperson, helping to stop the fire from growing.

Nearby train lines and a stretch of highway remained closed on Friday due to a 1,000-meter safety perimeter erected around the dump, where around 30 tons of explosives and ammunition, as well as several hundred kilograms of seized pyrotechnics, were being stored.

Firefighters and members of the police stand around a screen showing a map at the operational command vehicle near the closed motorway access Huettenweg, due to an explosion in munitions depot in the Grunewald forest in Berlin, Germany August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Of particular concern are two World War Two bombs, which are currently too hot and pose a danger until they can be cooled to a normal temperature, as well as a ground temperature of 700 degrees Celsius (1,300 Farenheit), a police spokesperson told a news conference.

No injuries from the fire have been reported.

Remote control vehicles named Magius Wolf R1 of Alpha Robotics are pictured on a trailer near the closed motorway access Huettenweg, due to an explosion in munitions depot in the Grunewald forest in Berlin, Germany August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

(Reporting by Miranda Murray; editing by Matthias Williams and John Stonestreet)

Firefighters and members of the police stand around a screen showing a map at the operational command vehicle near the closed motorway access Huettenweg, due to an explosion in munitions depot in the Grunewald forest in Berlin, Germany August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Members of the police stand around a screen showing a map at the operational command vehicle near the closed motorway access Huettenweg, due to an explosion in munitions depot in the Grunewald forest in Berlin, Germany August 5, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse