Nature rebounds quickly after Burgenland wildfires

Nature is often able to recover surprisingly quickly after wildfires, although the risk of forest and grassland fires remains high across Burgenland, ORF reports. Even after isolated rain at the start of the week, the soil remains extremely dry and vulnerable to fire.

Around two weeks ago, a forest fire spread across roughly four hectares in Sieggraben. About 300 firefighters battled the flames for hours. The damage is still visible, with many tree trunks charred and the undergrowth completely burned.

“Conifers burn much better because they have a lot of resin in their bark,” environmental lawyer Michael Graf said. The fire destroys the humus layer, turning it into an almost sandy material where no life remains, he said.

Graf estimated that it would take about a year for a fertile soil layer to rebuild in Sieggraben. Paradoxically, the ash left by the fire helps the process by creating a type of fertiliser that would otherwise not be present.

Signs of recovery are already visible at the edge of the forest, where fresh grass is growing directly from the charred soil. Ants have also returned, Graf said, describing this as a sign that the destruction did not penetrate deeply into the ground.

Despite these early signs of regeneration, the risk of forest and grassland fires in Burgenland remains high.