Over the past ten years, thousands of vegetation fires have been registered by the Florianis. The current situation in the country is relatively calm, but the drought does not bode well. How Easter fires affect this situation.
The snowless winter, partly still brown grass fields on the sunny slopes and the strong wind are currently increasing the risk of forest fires in Austria again. While this spring has been relatively quiet in terms of wildfires — only 30 incidents have been recorded nationwide so far — the summer season is likely to be hit and miss again.
“Exact statements about the upcoming summer fire season cannot be made at the moment, but the further course of the year, in particular longer dry phases and heat waves in the summer, are decisive. But of course the climatic development does not bode well,” warns expert Mortimer Müller of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna.
How do we fight forest fires?
Incidentally, the emergency services have to fight an average of about 200 forest fires per year (see graph). To make this a success, the Florianis count on timely preparation. Fire chief Jörg Degenhart, head of the “Vegetation firefighting and escape service” department of the Federal Fire Service Association, explains in an interview with the “Krone”: “After careless hikers in the spring, the heat storms in the summer are the greatest danger. On the basis of the example of East Tyrol, you can currently see very well how bark beetles, windthrow and the like are exacerbating the situation and are already giving us headaches.”
In short, fighting vegetation fires, especially in alpine terrain, is challenging. Forest fires usually involve a large number of emergency services, vehicles and aircraft, which must be managed professionally and with the best tactical measures. Training in Austria has been promoted and harmonized for several years.
New tactics and documents for the fire brigade are being developed and new equipment such as firefighting backpacks, easily portable pumps and fire-fighting water tanks for helicopters are being purchased. True to the motto “Take precautions instead of worrying”.
Heat the Easter fire Position only marginally
All over the country, the Easter fires this weekend provide a festive conclusion to Lent. In many places, traditional customs are an integral part of the respective regional culture. While campfires and the like are now considered a major danger in times of drought, the Easter fires are rarely associated with serious incidents. In particular, the early notification to the authorities and extensive fire watch by the emergency services largely stopped the unplanned spread of the flames.
By the way: hedgehogs and co. are often hidden in piles of leaves, compost or wood. Animal rights activists therefore also advocate measures to protect four-legged friends. “Certainly now, now that a large part of the wild animals are raising young animals, great caution is required. To ensure that no animals die in the Easter fire, the pyre must be rearranged shortly before lighting. In this way, small animals that have found shelter there can come to safety,” explains veterinarian Hans Frey of the organization “Four Paws”.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
