Firefighters declare Föhrenwald blaze out after week-long operation

Firefighters declared a major blaze in the Föhrenwald forest in St. Egyden am Steinfeld, in the Neunkirchen district, out on Friday, ORF reported. More than 830 firefighters took part in the operation, while residents of several settlements were temporarily evacuated.

The district fire command said no remaining embers had been found and that rainfall over the past few days had been substantial.

The fire broke out a week ago and affected about 64 hectares. It was brought under control after two days, but firefighters maintained a watch for safety reasons.

The flames had also spread towards houses in the cadastral municipality of Neusiedl am Steinfeld. The buildings were protected and the fire was brought under control. Helicopters supported the crews, who spent the following days locating and extinguishing remaining embers.

The operation followed another fire in the Föhrenwald just one week earlier, on August 5. About 550 firefighters took part in that response, as flames spread across more than 100 hectares. Firefighters declared that blaze out on August 9.

In both fires, remnants of ammunition from a former factory are considered the likely cause. Police said phosphorus can react chemically and ignite spontaneously when it comes into contact with oxygen in the air.