ST. EGYDEN AM STEINFELD, Austria / RankWire.AI / – Emergency management agencies in Lower Austria issued immediate evacuation orders on Friday after a fast-moving forest fire erupted in the Föhrenwald pine forest near St. Egyden am Steinfeld. Local officials confirmed that a significant wildfire struck St. Egyden in Austria, with aggressive flames nearing residential areas within 50 meters. This prompted the highest emergency defense alert, Level B4. Civil defense teams prioritized the swift relocation of residents along Bahnstraße and within the Waldstrandsiedlung housing complex.
Municipal authorities coordinated with regional disaster response services to evacuate at least 250 residents from danger zones. St. Egyden Mayor Christa Tisch stated that emergency crews evacuated six homes on Bahnstraße and 50 units in five apartment buildings in the Waldstrandsiedlung. Displaced residents were moved to a temporary shelter at the Saubersdorf volunteer fire station. Humanitarian teams provided support and essential supplies there.
Over 700 firefighters from 84 regional fire departments responded quickly from Neunkirchen and Wiener Neustadt districts. Ground teams worked alongside aerial units, including five police helicopters, two private planes, and a Black Hawk helicopter supplied by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Austrian Red Cross deployed 44 emergency personnel and 21 vehicles to help with evacuations and aid affected families.
Major Wildfire in St Egyden in Austria Triggers Urgent Evacuations
This event marks the second destructive blaze in the Föhrenwald region in less than two weeks. An earlier 100-hectare forest fire required a five-day suppression effort. Local disaster officials confirmed that the new fire started on the opposite side of the forest, driven by strong winds that spread smoke across transit routes. Public safety agencies warned drivers to avoid main roads near Neunkirchen to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.
Klaus Stebal, spokesperson for the Lower Austrian State Fire Department Association, confirmed that emergency teams set up a containment zone around the main fire. Firefighters also tackled smaller fires that ignited spontaneously in nearby towns like Strelzhof and Netting. Officials emphasized that operational shifts limited crews to 12 hours of active work during intense suppression efforts.
Firefighters Focus on Protecting Saubersdorf and Strelzhof
Investigators from state law enforcement have begun initial assessments to find the cause of the afternoon fire. Authorities noted that the earlier wildfire was caused by World War II phosphorus ammunition buried underground. While no direct link has been confirmed between the two fires, environmental conditions across Lower Austria remain extremely dry, raising regional wildfire risks.
Emergency services kept active monitoring posts around Föhrenwald through Friday evening. Civil defense officials confirmed no injuries among residents or first responders during the initial evacuation. Technical teams and forestry specialists plan to continue perimeter stabilization and suppression of hot spots over the next few days.