Sweeping fire in Heiligenblut: Rapid action prevents forest fires!

Sweeping fire in Heiligenblut: Rapid action prevents forest fires!

On April 9, 2025, there was a fire in Heiligenblut, in the Spittal/Drau district, which developed from an officially registered flash fire. A 45-year-old woman was carrying out sweeping work on her property when stronger winds spread the fire to an adjacent forest area. The property owner reacted immediately and notified the Heiligenblut Volunteer Fire Department (FF).

When the fire brigade arrived, the emergency services reported heavy smoke and several small fires in the forest. Thanks to the quick intervention, the incipient forest fire was quickly brought under control and extinguished. The property damage covers an area of ​​around 800 to 1000 m², but the extent of the damage is currently unknown. A total of 40 firefighters from the Heiligenblut and Großkirchheim fire departments as well as officers from the Heiligenblut am Großglockner police station were on duty.

The increasing trend of forest fires

This fire development in Heiligenblut sheds light on an urgent problem that has increasingly concerned Austria in recent years. Data shows that 85% of forest fires in Austria are caused by human activity. The main causes include discarded cigarettes, hot ash and out-of-control fires. According to the “Austria Fire Futures” project, the influence of recreational use on forest fires is being investigated. Institutions such as the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) and the Federal Forest Research Center (BFW) are involved in this.

So far in 2024, 109 forest fires have been documented, which represents a moderate decrease compared to the long-term average of 200 fires. However, there were two extreme fires that should be highlighted: In April, a fire in Wildalpen (Styria), caused by a broken power line, ignited an area of ​​90 hectares. In September there was a field fire during mowing work in Gänserndorf (Lower Austria), which affected over 30 hectares and resulted in the evacuation of 20 buildings.

Public awareness and information needs

A survey from the Rax-Schneeberg region shows that many people seeking relaxation feel inadequately informed about forest fires. However, the majority are aware that forest fires are increasing due to climate change. Among those surveyed there are many who support information measures about the risk of forest fires and the right behavior. Nearly two-thirds say they would be less likely to visit areas affected by wildfires, while a quarter express health concerns about hiking through such areas.

To address this issue, an online platform was developed to map all forest fires in Austria. The website www.waldbrand.at provides up-to-date information on the risk of forest fires and relevant forest fire regulations. We are also working on high-resolution maps for risk assessment that take human influence, topography, weather and vegetation into account.

The incident in Heiligenblut underscores the urgency of raising awareness of the risk of forest fires and promoting preventive measures to avoid such fires. Information and training could make a crucial contribution to preventing future fire events and ensuring safety for people and nature.

For more information, readers can visit the coverage Fireworld, ORF Carinthia as well as the website of the Forest Association visit.