Drama about Arnoldstein: Citizen discovers smoke, fire brigade on duty!

Drama about Arnoldstein: Citizen discovers smoke, fire brigade on duty!

On April 20, 2025, the fire department in Arnoldstein was alerted after a citizen discovered a plume of smoke above the cemetery. Before the fire brigade arrived, the attentive passer-by tried to put out the fire himself with a watering can. When the Arnoldstein volunteer fire department arrived, two fires were located and were immediately brought under control. The fire brigade covered both the fire areas and adjacent areas with water to prevent the fire from spreading further.

The Arnoldstein police secured the fire sites and initiated an investigation to clarify the cause of the fire. The post-extinguishing work was completed by the Arnoldstein Volunteer Fire Department, which was present on site to ensure that no embers remained and safety was restored. Such operations are not uncommon, as forest fires regularly pose a challenge.

Frequency of forest fires in Austria

There is a long history of forest fires in Austria. These have been documented in various chronicles since the 16th century. The largest burned areas in history have been over 1,000 hectares, according to a new wildfire database that allows individual queries. The largest forest fire in terms of area since the end of the Second World War occurred in 1947 at Nederjoch in Telfes, Tyrol, where 200 hectares were affected. Other significant forest fires include:

• 01. April 2024: Föhnsturm in der Steiermark, 92 Hektar betroffen.
• 26. März 2022: Brand am Truppenübungsplatz Allentsteig, 800 Hektar betroffen (400 Hektar Wald).
• 25. Oktober 2021: Waldbrand bei Hirschwang/Rax, 109 Hektar betroffen.
• 22. April 2015: Brand in Lurnfeld, 80 Hektar betroffen.

The data shows that forest fires in Austria are not only a current problem, but also represent a historical challenge that requires continued attention. These developments are not surprising, as climatic conditions and human influence have a significant effect on the frequency and severity of these fires. The police and fire brigade are constantly on duty to minimize the risk of forest fires and to respond quickly to such incidents.

For more detailed information on forest fire statistics and research, the Forest Fire Database Austria is of great interest as it represents a valuable resource for scientists and the public. The investigations into the current fire scenes in Arnoldstein will provide timely results that could contribute to prevention in the future.