Phosphorus Residues from World War Munition Trigger Second Forest Fire in the Föhrenwald

The Föhrenwald is an extensive forest and heath area along the Lower Austria–Burgenland border. In recent days, emergency services had fought the flames in the cadastral communities of St. Egyden and Neusiedl, among others. Due to the munition contamination, the fire area was accessible only to a limited extent for firefighters at times.

Contaminated Terrain for Decades

As early as around 1914, up to 100 workers had been employed in shifts at the factory at the site. The facility was destroyed at the end of World War II; decades later, munition residues and other ordnance were repeatedly found in the ground during clearance operations. Inspection tours for government representatives had regularly brought the hazard area into focus in the past.

During both fires, the fire departments had to extinguish over wide areas around munition parts and were unable to enter smoldering hotspots directly. Special forces for munition clearance were deployed according to the District Fire Command of Neunkirchen to gradually clear the radius for firefighting operations.

Residents were instructed to keep windows and doors closed and not to enter the fire area. In addition, walking paths were closed in sections where ordnance experts suspected an elevated concentration of munition parts.

Work Under Specialist Supervision

According to the fire department, the follow-up extinguishing work continued on Sunday morning as well. Smoldering hotspots in the forest floor could only be extinguished under the supervision of clearance specialists, since phosphorus can ignite spontaneously upon contact with oxygen, making every step a potential hazard.

The operation command emphasized that the fires had not caused any personal injuries. The extent of property damage was not yet estimable, as affected forest areas continued to need to be checked for blind finds.

For the coming days, the District Fire Command announced further search sweeps and probe excavations. The area around the former factory will remain designated as munition-contaminated until further notice.

Long-Term Risks in the Forest Floor

Experts pointed out that phosphorus from old munition can remain stable in the soil for decades and react again when exposed — for example through drought, fires, or excavations. The second fire in the Föhrenwald underscores the long-term danger posed by such legacy contaminants.

The municipality of St. Egyden am Steinfeld set up an information hotline for local residents. Among other things, it provides information on restricted areas, upcoming inspection tours by the fire department and clearance services, as well as guidance for hikers in the forest area.