Drama about Arnoldstein: Citizens discovered smoke, fire brigade in action!

Drama about Arnoldstein: Citizens discovered smoke, fire brigade in action!

Arnoldstein, Österreich - On April 20, 2025, the fire brigade in Arnoldstein was alerted after a citizen discovered a swath of smoke above the cemetery. Even before the fire brigade arrived, the attentive passerby tried to extinguish the fire with a watering can. When the Arnoldstein volunteer fire brigade arrived, two fire spots were localized, which were immediately brought under control. The fire brigade held both the fire areas and adjacent areas with water to prevent further spread of the fire.

The Arnoldstein police secured the fire areas and initiated investigations to clarify the cause of the fire. The post -extinguishing work was completed by the Arnoldstein volunteer fire brigade, which was present on site to ensure that no embers remained and security was restored. Such operations are not uncommon, because forest fires regularly represent a challenge.

Frequency of forest fires in Austria

In Austria there is a long history of forest fires. These have been documented in various chronicles since the 16th century. According to a new forest fire database, which enables individual queries, the largest fire areas in history have been over 1000 hectares. The largest forest fire since the end of the Second World War occurred in 1947 on the Nederjoch in Telfes, Tyrol, where 200 hectares were affected. Other important forest fires include:

• 01. April 2024: Föhnsturm in Styria, 92 hectares affected.
• 26. March 2022: Fire at the Allentsteig military training area, 800 hectares affected (400 hectares of forest).
• 25. October 2021: forest fire at Hirschwang/Rax, 109 hectares affected.
• 22. April 2015: Brand in Lurnfeld, 80 hectares affected.

The data show that forest fires in Austria are not only a current problem, but also a historical challenge that always requires attention. These developments are not surprising, because the climatic conditions and the human influence have a significant effect on the frequency and severity of these fires. The police and fire brigade are continuously deployed to minimize the risk of forest fires and react quickly to such incidents.

For more precise information on forest fire statistics and research, the Waldbrand database Austria is of great interest, since it represents a valuable resource for scientists and the public. The investigation into the current fire spots in Arnoldstein will deliver results promptly that could contribute to prevention in the future.