Short circuit destroys sawmill in Mistelbach – damage in the mid six-figure range

The cause was investigated by the State Criminal Police Office together with an expert from the Lower Austrian Office for Fire Prevention. According to the findings, an electrical short circuit "with very high probability" triggered the fire at the sawmill the previous week.

Spread to heating plant prevented

The flames spreading to the immediately adjacent heating plant was prevented. According to the emergency services, a spread to the neighboring facility would have been associated with significantly more severe consequences.

As of the current state of the investigation, no one was injured. The fire department and police assume that no persons were present in the affected area of the sawmill at the time the fire broke out.

Investigations into the specific cause of damage

Police announced further investigations at the scene of the fire. Experts are to determine where in the electrical system the short circuit occurred and whether technical defects may have been present.

In this context, the Lower Austrian Office for Fire Prevention generally pointed to the fire hazard in wood-processing operations. Wood chips and sawdust are particularly easily ignitable, which is why electrical systems in such facilities must be regularly maintained.

For the sawmill, the fire means a significant disruption to operations. How long it will take to resume operations was initially unclear. The operator itself has not publicly commented on the incident to date.