Firefighters stage large forest-fire drill in Steinernes Meer

More than 230 firefighters and emergency personnel took part in a major forest-fire exercise near Steinalm in Saalfelden, ORF reported. The scenario involved a lightning-caused fire in the difficult mountain terrain of the Steinernes Meer at an altitude of about 1,200 metres. Strong winds created a high risk of the fire spreading.

The exercise involved 40 fire engines and personnel from mountain rescue, the alpine police, the air police, the Austrian Federal Forests and the Zell am See district authority. Saalfelden’s fire brigade said the highest alert level, level four, was activated.

Teams practised transporting equipment and personnel, as well as supplying helicopters with kerosene. Rescue helicopters would also have to be incorporated into the operation if people were injured in a real fire.

A relay line more than two kilometres long, equipped with several pumps, was laid from a Salzburg AG reservoir to the simulated fire. Several tanker fire engines also shuttled along forest roads. A drone was used to assess the situation, while mountain rescue teams built a rope railing to secure the crews working in the difficult terrain.

The Fuchssteig trail from the Felseneinsiedelei hermitage on the Palfen to Steinalm crosses a partly very steep forest area that must be covered on foot.