Vienna firefighters forecast record year with 46,000 callouts

Vienna’s professional fire brigade could face a record year, with about 46,000 callouts expected if the current trend continues, ORF reported Friday. That would be 10,000 more than a decade ago.

The brigade averaged 33,000 callouts a year ten years ago. Over the past three years, the figure has risen to 44,000, and it is expected to increase again this year.

The fire brigade attributes the rise to three main factors: Vienna’s population has grown significantly, extreme weather events linked to the climate crisis have become more frequent, and more people are willing to call the emergency number 122. Storms, floods and fires caused by dry conditions are putting greater demands on emergency crews.

Fire brigade marks 340 years

The professional fire brigade in Vienna has existed for 340 years. The anniversary will be marked at the Feuerwehrfest festival at Am Hof, which runs from Friday to Sunday.

Emergency crews will present the development of firefighting and display historic and modern fire engines. Children can ride up in an aerial ladder or try a fire hose.

The programme also includes demonstrations by height rescuers and firefighting crews. Special units will take part as well, including firefighter beekeepers, the search-and-rescue dog unit, fire brigade divers and the disaster response service’s sound-locating unit.