Firefighters are battling a blaze that has consumed approximately three hectares of grass at a military training ground in Toruń, with crews working urgently to prevent the flames from reaching nearby forests.
Large-scale firefighting operation
Emergency services were notified of the fire on Friday shortly after 12:00 PM. The Toruń Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service reported that initial estimates place the burned area at roughly three hectares.
Reinforcements from the State Fire Service, Military Fire Service, and Volunteer Fire Brigades are arriving from Toruń, Chełmża, Bydgoszcz, and Inowrocław. The operation includes water tankers, drones, quad bikes, two Dromader firefighting aircraft, and a helicopter.
Challenges on the ground
Junior Brigadier Aleksandra Starowicz stated that the terrain is difficult to access, complicating the suppression efforts. The primary objective for responders is containment to prevent the fire from spreading into the forest, which would be the worst-case scenario.
The cause of the fire remains unknown while tactical operations from the provincial and municipal fire command groups continue at the site.
Environmental risk factors
The State Fire Service warned in late April that current weather conditions—including low humidity, variable winds, and high temperatures—create an extreme risk for rapid fire spread, citing over 2,000 fires since the start of the year.
These hazardous conditions were previously observed during a large-scale fire in the Solska Forest in the Lublin region earlier this May, where approximately 500 hectares were affected.
