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Austria's fire services well-prepared for forest fire risk, president says
🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Austria's fire services well-prepared for forest fire risk, president says

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Austria's fire departments are well-prepared for the current high risk of forest fires, according to the president of the Federal Fire Association.
  • Water scarcity poses the biggest challenge, and fires often require extensive manual labor and specific techniques for ground fires prevalent in Austria.
  • Human activity, including carelessly discarded cigarettes and even hot car exhausts on dry grass, is a major cause of fires, prompting an appeal for public caution.

Austria's fire services are ready to combat the escalating threat of forest fires, despite concerns about water scarcity and the labor-intensive nature of firefighting.

Our fire departments are very well-equipped.

— Robert MayerRobert Mayer, president of the Federal Fire Association, stated the readiness of Austrian fire services in an interview.

Robert Mayer, president of the Federal Fire Association, assured that "Our fire departments are very well-equipped." He highlighted that while helicopters, long hoses, and intact forest road networks are crucial, especially in difficult terrain, fighting fires often involves significant "manual labor." This is particularly true for Austria, where ground fires are common and require techniques like digging up soil and using specialized backpacks.

Our fire departments are very well-prepared.

— Robert MayerPresident of the Federal Fire Association Robert Mayer expressed confidence in the fire services' readiness.

Recent incidents, such as a forest fire in Ebbs, Tyrol, suspected to be caused by lightning, underscore the danger. Mayer pointed out that while lightning is a primary cause, statistics show that one in five fires results from "a carelessly discarded cigarette." He urged the public to exercise extreme caution, noting that "very small sparks" can ignite fires in the current dry conditions. Mayer also warned that even a car's hot exhaust parked on dry grass can trigger a blaze.

very much manual labor

— Robert MayerMayer described the hands-on effort required in firefighting.

Despite these challenges, Mayer expressed confidence in the preparedness of the fire departments and their members. He noted that 600 out of 1700 firefighters in Lower Austria have specialized training for forest fires. The association is also coordinating with more severely affected nations. As Europe experiences one of the hottest summers on record, the call for caution and hope for a cooler autumn resonates.

In Austria, there are predominantly ground fires.

— Robert MayerMayer explained the typical nature of fires in Austria.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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