The constant drought drastically increases fire risk in Austria and has already activated large scale inserts in the inland forests. The fire brigades not only warn of open burning, but also of the thrown waste, which can cause firing through the lens effect. Forest Fire regulations will take effect earlier this year.
The persistent drought has increased the risk of fire in the home forests. In the Schneeberg area, the emergency services are currently fighting a fire, while smaller forest and halfs are constantly breaking through the whole of Austria. The fire brigades warn of a particularly high danger and urgently advise caution: if you discover a fire, you must immediately call the fire brigade and not start your own extinguishing attempts.
Rather than normal: instructions for forest fire weather in force
In various districts, including Baden and Mödling in Lower Austria, Forest Fire instructions are already in force, informed Günter Huemer, Duty Officer of the State Fire Brigade Command. Also in Upper Austria, the Monday in five districts regulation applies – and this year much earlier than normal. A clear sign of how serious the situation in this hot spring is.
Plastic waste can also have a burning glass effect
It should of course not be not to smoke or throw cigarette blocks away in the forest, and not to ignite a campfire in the case of dryness. But other waste also represents a risk: many containers, whether it is glass or plastic, can bundle the sunlight because of their lentil effect and fires on dry surfaces.
The fire brigade gives urgent advice: warn the fire brigade immediately in the case of a fire before you try to extinguish yourself. It is certainly not certain that a handfire extinguisher is sufficient to stop a fire, especially in dry soil, where the fire can spread quickly. Therefore: do not lose time and choose the 122.
Firefights can last weeks
Large forest and corridors can often take weeks before they are completely removed, Huemer explains. It is particularly difficult that the fire can continue to go underground and spread without being visible immediately. To combat these hidden fires, special equipment such as land clarment tools is required – such as chopping and extinguishing bags with which the floor fire is specifically enclosed. But access to the source of the fire, especially in steep slopes, is often difficult. “This is really a matter of manpower,” said the Fire Brigade Officer.
Incidents in the West
The drought also influences customs, for example in the traditional combustion of sparks: the state government of Vorarlberg had recently advised to prevent a fire in nature. Some sparking guilds were annulated their events, but there were incidents: in Eichenberg (Bregenz District) there was hardly occurring on Saturday evening when the flames spread when the spark of a child’s spark was inflamed.
In St. Anton in the Montafon, strangers lit a spark at night and drove away. The Spark Watch only discovered the fire when the fire was blazing. Fortunately nothing has happened.
Source: Krone
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