Major fire on farm in Pettenbach: Around 600 pigs killed, one firefighter injured

Injured firefighter in hospital

During the firefighting operations, one firefighter was injured. He was treated on site by the Red Cross and then taken to hospital. No information on the severity of the injuries was initially available.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway

The police were initially unable to provide any information on the cause of the fire. As the APA reports, investigations into the cause of the fire were underway. The damage to the stables and the affected infrastructure is, according to initial assessments, considerable.

Risks of barn fires

Large-scale agricultural fires pose a particular challenge for fire departments because animals in the stables cannot flee on their own, and smoke and heat make access difficult. In several federal states, there are therefore special operational concepts for fires in livestock facilities, which regulate, among other things, the care of injured animals and the controlled execution of firefighting operations.

The municipality of Pettenbach is located in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in the Alpine foothills of Upper Austria. The region is shaped by agriculture; alongside arable farming and grassland, livestock farming plays an important role.

The incident is reminiscent of other barn fires in Austria in recent years, in each of which several thousand animals lost their lives. Livestock owners and emergency organizations had subsequently repeatedly pointed to the need for additional fire protection measures in stable facilities.

Economic consequences for the operation

The responsible authorities announced that, after the firefighting operations were completed, they would examine the fire site together with experts in order to determine the exact cause. The results of the investigation are expected in the coming weeks.

For the affected farming family, the loss of the entire livestock represents a severe economic blow. Whether and to what extent insurance will cover the damage was initially unclear.

The psychological burden on the emergency personnel and the residents should also not be underestimated. Helpers report that fires involving high animal losses weigh heavily even on experienced firefighters. Emergency organizations offer psychological support in such cases.

Appeals to the public

The police asked eyewitnesses who could provide relevant information about the course of the fire to contact the nearest police station. According to initial findings, it is being examined whether a technical defect, for example in electrical systems or heating systems, could be considered as the cause of the fire.

The fire departments from the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems and from the neighboring districts worked hand in hand on Saturday. Coordination by radio and the supply of firefighting water from hydrants and tanker vehicles ran largely smoothly, according to the operations command.

The public was asked during the operation to avoid the area around the fire site over a wide radius in order to keep the access routes clear for emergency vehicles. According to the police, this request was largely followed by the local population.

In the late afternoon, the mop-up operations and inspection of the fire site continued. Only once no more hotspots are detected can the emergency personnel hand over the fire site to the police and the owners.

Overall, the operation demonstrates the capability of the volunteer fire service in Upper Austria, but also the vulnerability of agricultural operations to fires. The cleanup work is expected to take several days.