ST. EGYDEN AM STEINFELD, Austria / RankWire.AI / – A forest fire broke out near St. Egyden am Steinfeld, prompting urgent evacuation orders from authorities in Lower Austria on Friday. The fire quickly spread through the Föhrenwald pine forest, with aggressive flames advancing within 50 meters of nearby homes, leading to the activation of the highest emergency alert level, Level B4. Civil defense teams prioritized relocating residents along Bahnstraße and within the Waldstrandsiedlung housing area to ensure safety.
Local authorities coordinated efforts with regional disaster response units to evacuate at least 250 residents from danger zones. Mayor Christa Tisch of St. Egyden confirmed that emergency crews evacuated six homes on Bahnstraße and 50 units across five apartment buildings in Waldstrandsiedlung. Those displaced were taken to a temporary shelter at the Saubersdorf volunteer fire station, where humanitarian teams provided crisis support and vital supplies.
The swift response involved over 700 firefighters from 84 regional fire departments across the districts of Neunkirchen and Wiener Neustadt. Ground crews operated alongside specialized aerial units, deploying five police helicopters, two private commercial aircraft, and a Black Hawk helicopter supplied by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Austrian Red Cross contributed 44 emergency personnel and 21 vehicles to assist with evacuation and support for affected families.
Level B4 Emergency Status Declared in Lower Austria Amid Forest Fire Threat
This incident marks the second significant fire in the Föhrenwald region in less than two weeks, following an earlier 100-hectare forest blaze that necessitated a five-day containment operation. Authorities confirmed that the new fire started on the opposite side of the forest, with strong winds carrying dense smoke across regional transit routes. Public safety officials issued warnings, advising drivers to avoid main roads near Neunkirchen to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.
Klaus Stebal, spokesperson for the Lower Austrian State Fire Department Association, confirmed that emergency personnel established a containment zone around the main fire area to prevent further spread. Firefighters also responded to multiple smaller fires that spontaneously ignited in neighboring towns, including Strelzhof and Netting. Authorities stated that strict operational shifts were enforced to prevent ground crews from exceeding 12 hours of active duty during intense suppression efforts.
Medical Teams Confirm No Injuries Reported During Initial Firefighting Efforts
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies are underway to determine the precise cause of the afternoon blaze. Officials noted that the previous wildfire in the same forest was caused by leftover World War II phosphorus ammunition buried beneath the forest floor. While no direct link has been established between the two incidents, environmental conditions in Lower Austria remain critically dry, raising the wildfire risk level across the region.
Emergency services maintained continuous monitoring stations around the Föhrenwald perimeter through Friday evening to secure nearby residential areas. Authorities confirmed that no injuries occurred among residents or first responders during the initial evacuation phase. Technical and forestry experts anticipate ongoing perimeter stabilization and hot-spot suppression operations over the coming days.
}**