Police link second St. Egyden fire to phosphorus
Monday 17th August 2026 on 11:00 in
Austria
Police believe phosphorus in ammunition fragments caused a second major fire in the Föhrenwald forest in St. Egyden am Steinfeld in the Neunkirchen district, ORF reported Monday. Firefighters were still searching for and extinguishing hot spots.
The ammunition fragments came from a factory that was blown up at the end of the Second World War. A police spokeswoman said the cause was considered highly likely.
About 10 firefighters from three fire brigades were working on Monday, supported by a drone unit. Firefighters said they hoped for more rain, but it was still unclear when the fire could be declared fully extinguished.
The municipality warned of falling or damaged trees in the affected area and said fire vehicles were still operating there. It urged people to avoid sightseeing trips to the fire zone and not to obstruct emergency crews.
About 64 hectares affected
More than 830 firefighters and 11 helicopters responded to the blaze on Friday. As the flames spread towards homes, settlements in the cadastral municipality of Neusiedl am Steinfeld were temporarily evacuated. About 250 people were able to return home that evening after the fire was brought under control.
The fire affected about 64 hectares in total. A week earlier, another fire had spread across about 100 hectares in the Föhrenwald. That blaze was also believed to have been caused by phosphorus in ammunition fragments from the same destroyed factory.