BERLIN: Around 600 people had to be evacuated from their homes due to a forest fire near Berlin on Thursday, police said.
The fire, which covered around 300 hectares (740 acres) south of Potsdam, spread to within about 100 metres (320 feet) of three villages.
Residents were told to leave and only bring essential medication and papers with them, a local police spokesman said.
Several hundred firefighters were deployed to fight the flames which spread rapidly due to recent dry conditions.