Major fire in Steyr-Hausleiten: Firefighters battle flames in sorting hall

Major deployment of multiple fire departments

The incident command asked residents in the immediate vicinity of the fire site to keep windows and doors closed. This was intended to prevent smoke and potential pollutants from entering homes and houses. The request applied especially to households located downwind of the fire.

According to eyewitnesses, the smoke rose as a dark, widely visible cloud over the industrial area of Steyr-Hausleiten. The column of smoke was also clearly visible from surrounding districts and from the opposite bank of the Enns river. Photos circulating online showed massive smoke coverage.

Warning to residents: Keep windows closed

There were no confirmed reports of possible injuries as of Saturday afternoon. The emergency services were also initially unable to provide reliable statements on the cause of the fire or the extent of property damage. The investigations and recovery operations were still in their early stages at that time.

Since the affected facility is a plant for the sorting and treatment of waste, there is generally a possibility that various materials were involved in the spread of the fire, according to the emergency services. More detailed information on the burning materials and the course of the fire was not publicly known by the afternoon.

Cause of fire and damage still unclear

Fire departments from Steyr and surrounding municipalities, including units from the Kirchdorf district according to current information, supported each other in the firefighting efforts. Coordination was handled by the local incident command. Multiple fire engines and breathing apparatus teams were deployed to bring the fire under control.

APA and other news agencies reported consistently on Saturday of a major deployment of fire departments in Steyr-Hausleiten. The reports were updated continuously throughout the day: „Dieser Artikel wird laufend aktualisiert." Authorities asked the public to avoid the area around the fire site widely and to keep emergency vehicles' paths clear.

Ongoing updates to reports

How long the firefighting operations would last was initially unclear. The fire department warned that, based on experience, post-extinguishing work in a sorting hall can take several hours due to the sometimes hard-to-reach smoldering hotspots. A final report was expected for later in the evening.