MUNICH: German officials began evacuating the village of Jakobstal Bahnhof in the Meissen district on Friday evening, as a forest fire on the Saxony-Brandenburg border continued to spread. Around 45 residents were expected to leave their homes due to the fire risk, which has persisted for four days.

The wildfire originally broke out in the Görishheide area on Tuesday and has since engulfed vast stretches of forest. Authorities previously evacuated the nearby town of Heidhäuser, which remains undamaged. Firefighters said the situation is “currently under control,” though they cautioned that shifting wind conditions could alter the outlook.

The evacuation order for Jakobstal Bahnhof is expected to remain in place until Saturday evening.

More than 400 personnel — including firefighters, technical relief forces, and emergency responders — have been deployed to battle the flames, which show no signs of abating. With dry conditions and rising temperatures forecasted later in the week, officials fear the fires could reignite or expand further.

In addition to Saxony and Brandenburg, emergency services are also tackling another large-scale forest fire in Thuringia, eastern Germany.