WW2 Ammo Poses Explosion Risk After German Wildfires

The buried ammo has already caused several explosions (Picture: PA).

Second World War ammunition buried in a German forest has been described as "dangerous" and an explosion risk, due to a spreading wildfire near Berlin.

Efforts to extinguish the flames, which are the size of more than 500 football pitches, have been complicated due to the ammunition, which could explode in the fire.

Brandenburg governor Dietmar Woidke said:

"The ammunition is very dangerous, because one cannot step on the ground and therefore one cannot get close to the fire."

The fire is spreading south-west of the German capital, leading to the evacuation of three villages.

More than 500 people had to leave their homes on Thursday night as a result of the fire in the Treuenbrietzen region, 30 miles outside Berlin.

Treuenbrietzen is in the eastern German state of Brandenburg.

"The fire continues to be a big threat," Mr Woidke said.

"But we will do everything to protect people's property."

Local lawmaker Christian Stein said there had already been several detonations due to the ammunition, and firefighters were not allowed to enter some areas.

Authorities are trying to douse the flames in those areas with firefighting helicopters and water cannons.

In April, a bomb dropped on Paderborn during the Second World War caused 26,000 evacuations before it was defused.

The British military was deployed to tackle moorland fires in the Pennines in April.