Story Archive

Is That Clear?

A wildfire 30 miles from Berlin, Germany, is proving difficult to extinguish thanks to a special hazard to firefighters: unexploded munitions from World War II buried in the forest. There have been “several” explosions, and “total evacuations” were ordered for several villages in the area. “At the moment, it’s not clear when we will be able to give the all clear,” says Brandenburg State Premier Dietmar Woidke. Meanwhile, a prolonged heat-wave in Germany has the Elbe River at its lowest point since 1934 — which is uncovering World War II munitions that were dumped in the river when the war was over. “Today there was a photo in a newspaper of someone holding up pieces in their hands,” said Saxony police spokeswoman Wibke Sperling. “That is a classic example of what gives weapons disposal experts a fright.” (RC/Deutsche Welle, 2) ...That’s nothing compared to the fright that “scooper” firefighting planes might get.