Forest owners rush to insure against rising wildfire risk

Demand for forest fire insurance has risen sharply in Upper Austria after weeks of dry weather significantly increased the wildfire risk, ORF reports. Rain on Monday and Tuesday did little to ease concerns among forest owners, as a single spark could quickly turn decades of growth into a burned-out area.

The Upper Austria Forest Association said demand for forest fire insurance has increased substantially. In 2026 alone, 170 forest owners in the province have taken out new policies. More than 71,000 hectares of forest are now insured through the collective policy.

The province’s disaster fund does not cover damage caused by forest fires. The insurance covers not only the trees and their economic value, but also firefighting and clean-up costs, as well as reforestation.