Forest fires in Völkermarkt: 21 fire departments fight against flames!

Forest fires in Völkermarkt: 21 fire departments fight against flames!

Kömmel, Österreich - In the district of Völkermarkt in Austria, two forest fires broke out on April 12, 2025 for a previously unknown cause. The fires occurred in the village of Kömmel, municipality of Bleiburg, and in St. Nikolai, municipality of Ruden. Around 200 emergency services are in the fight against the flames and are supported by a total of 21 fire departments that were alerted at around 1 p.m.

The forest fire in Kömmel has used an area of around 400 square meters in steep terrain. Despite the difficult wind conditions, the emergency services were able to contain the spread of the fire. Leaving bags and special forest fire units are used for fire fighting. The firefighters are also supported by a drone of the St. Michael ob Bleiburg volunteer fire brigade, which is used to monitor and combat the fire. The weirs involved include Aich near Bleiburg, Bach, Bleiburg, Lavamünd and St. Michael ob Bleiburg, actively on site with a total of twelve fire departments.

situation in St. Nikolai

in St. Nikolai, where an area of around 800 square meters is affected, five fire departments are in use. These now largely have the fire under control, although only reversal work is still required. The task is to combat embers and rootsticks, which is done with the help of a drone and a thermal imaging camera. Firefighters from handles, rudes, international market and other districts are active here.

Both the cause of the fire and the exact circumstances of both incidents have so far been unclear. Branding investigations are underway, but there is no forecast of the soon end of the extinguishing work.

The current events again illustrate the challenges that exist in forest fires in the region. Difficult terrain and unfavorable weather conditions contribute to the complexity of the missions. The firefighters make a brave and valuable effort to stop the spread of the flames and prevent further damage. Further details on the missions can be found at Klick Carärnten and 5min .

For additional information about forest fire fighting and prevention measures, the recommended.