Crashed model aircraft sparks forest fire in Pregarten

A battery-powered model aircraft crashed and sparked a forest fire in Pregarten in the Freistadt district on Thursday, ORF reported. Ten volunteer fire brigades responded to the blaze.

The first emergency services were alerted shortly after 10 a.m. after a farmer reported the fire. According to Manuel Mayerhofer, deputy commander of the Pregarten volunteer fire brigade, the flames spread across about 1,000 square metres.

Dry conditions made the firefighting difficult. Because the nearest water source was a considerable distance away, firefighters laid a hose line about one kilometre long. Farmers from nearby also supplied water for the operation.

The fire was quickly brought under control. No one was injured, but crews continued extinguishing remaining hotspots until the late afternoon.