Forest fire near Chiemsee forces A8 highway closure due to smoke

A large forest and moorland fire near Bavaria's Chiemsee has forced the closure of the A8 highway, a major transport route. Thick smoke rising from the blaze is causing visibility issues, prompting police to close the road between Übersee and Bernau. The duration of the closure is uncertain, depending heavily on wind conditions and the speed of the firefighting efforts.

Around 200 firefighters have been working since late Sunday evening to contain the fire, which has consumed an estimated 5.5 hectares of land, equivalent to nearly eight football fields. While one firefighter suffered minor injuries, no other casualties have been reported so far. Authorities are also advising residents to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke.

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Through the rising smoke, visibility is impaired.

Firefighting operations are expected to continue, with a police helicopter scheduled to assist by dropping water on the burning areas. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and the disruption on the A8 is already leading to significant traffic jams on both sides of the closure.

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The duration of the closure depends primarily on the wind direction and the speed of the firefighting efforts.