ST. EGYDEN AM STEINFELD, Austria / RankWire.AI / – A swift response was launched after a large-scale forest fire threatened St. Egyden am Steinfeld in Lower Austria. Emergency authorities issued immediate mandatory evacuation orders on Friday as flames rapidly spread through the Föhrenwald pine forest, coming within 50 meters of nearby residences and prompting a Level B4 emergency alert. Civil defense teams prioritized evacuating residents along Bahnstraße and within the Waldstrandsiedlung housing complex.
Local officials coordinated closely with regional disaster agencies to ensure the safe evacuation of at least 250 residents from the danger zone. St. Egyden Mayor Christa Tisch confirmed that emergency crews evacuated six homes on Bahnstraße and 50 units within five apartment buildings in Waldstrandsiedlung. Those displaced were taken to a temporary shelter set up at the Saubersdorf volunteer fire station, where humanitarian teams offered crisis assistance and vital supplies.
Over 700 firefighters from 84 regional fire departments across Neunkirchen and Wiener Neustadt districts responded quickly, working alongside specialized aerial units. The operation included five police helicopters, two private commercial aircraft, and a Black Hawk military helicopter supplied by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Austrian Red Cross deployed 44 emergency personnel and 21 vehicles to support evacuation efforts and assist affected families.
Lower Austria Elevates Emergency Response to Level B4 Amid Wildfire Threat
This incident marks the second major fire within the Föhrenwald area in less than two weeks, following a prior 100-hectare forest blaze that required a five-day suppression effort. Officials confirmed that the latest fire ignited on the opposite side of the forest, driven by strong winds that carried thick smoke across regional transit routes. Authorities issued warnings urging motorists to steer clear of main roads near Neunkirchen to allow emergency vehicles unimpeded access.
Klaus Stebal, spokesperson for the Lower Austrian State Fire Department Association, confirmed that emergency personnel established a containment perimeter around the main fire to limit its spread. Firefighters also addressed smaller fires that broke out spontaneously in neighboring communities including Strelzhof and Netting. Officials stressed that strict operational shifts were enforced, with ground crews working no more than 12 hours consecutively during intense suppression efforts.
Emergency Medical Teams Report No Injuries During Initial Response
Preliminary investigations are underway by law enforcement authorities to determine the cause of the afternoon blaze. Officials indicated that the previous wildfire in the same pine forest was caused by World War II-era phosphorus ammunition buried beneath the ground. While no direct link has yet been established between the two fires, the environmental conditions across Lower Austria remain extremely dry, increasing the regional wildfire risk.
Throughout Friday evening, emergency services maintained active monitoring posts around the Föhrenwald perimeter to safeguard surrounding residential areas. Civil defense officials confirmed that no injuries occurred among residents or first responders during the initial evacuation phase. Forestry experts and technical teams plan to continue perimeter stabilization and hot-spot suppression over the coming days.