Forest fire near Thomatal in Lungau triggered by lightning strike

The affected area comprised around 300 square metres of forest that was in flames. Due to the slope and the inaccessibility of the terrain, firefighting proved difficult. "Weil das Gelände sehr steil ist, konnte man den Brandherd nur zu Fuß erreichen", Keidel explained, describing the challenging operation.

Emergency personnel from several fire services in the region worked hand in hand to bring the flames under control. Police cordoned off the area around the fire site to keep onlookers at a distance and prevent them from hindering rescue operations. The Red Cross was on standby for any potentially injured emergency workers.

Difficult conditions on steep terrain

Once the fire had been extinguished, the site was checked and searched for possible smouldering hotspots to prevent reignition. The emergency personnel were able to gradually withdraw from the steep terrain. "Rund 300 Quadratmeter standen in Flammen" und "50 Kräfte von Feuerwehren, Polizei und Rotem Kreuz waren im Einsatz", Keidel summarised the operation.

The Lungau district is located in the south of the federal state of Salzburg and is one of the higher-lying regions of Austria. Forest fires on steep alpine terrain regularly pose particular challenges for emergency services, as fire engines cannot be driven directly to the fire site. The use of helicopters is also not always possible in such situations.

The region had seen an increased number of thunderstorms in recent weeks, raising the risk of lightning strikes as a cause of fires. Residents of the surrounding municipalities were advised to avoid forest areas and to follow the instructions of the emergency services.

No personal injuries known

According to currently available information, there were no personal injuries or damage to buildings. The responsible authorities intend to further investigate the exact sequence of events in order to conclusively determine the cause of the fire.

The incident once again demonstrates how quickly a single lightning strike can trigger a forest fire in dry vegetation. Even though the affected area was comparatively small, the operation in the steep terrain required considerable logistical effort.

Thomas Keidel thanked the involved emergency organisations for their swift cooperation. The fire services in the Lungau district are prepared for such operations in alpine terrain and regularly conduct training exercises in order to be able to respond quickly in an emergency.

The authorities intend to provide information on possible follow-up operations or further findings regarding the cause of the fire at a later date. The incident will be routinely included in the Salzburg forest fire statistics.