ST. EGYDEN AM STEINFELD, Austria / RankWire.AI / – Authorities in Lower Austria swiftly issued mandatory evacuation orders on Friday following the outbreak of a rapidly spreading forest fire in the Föhrenwald pine woodland near St. Egyden am Steinfeld. Confirmations from local officials reveal that a significant wildfire has impacted St. Egyden, as aggressive flames advanced within 50 meters of nearby residential areas, prompting the highest emergency alert, Level B4. Civil defense teams prioritized the rapid evacuation of residents along Bahnstraße and within the Waldstrandsiedlung housing complex.
Coordination between municipal authorities and regional disaster response agencies led to the safe removal of at least 250 residents from the danger zone. St. Egyden’s Mayor Christa Tisch reported that emergency personnel evacuated six homes on Bahnstraße and 50 units across five apartment complexes in the Waldstrandsiedlung area. The displaced residents were taken to an emergency shelter set up at the Saubersdorf volunteer fire station, where humanitarian teams provided crisis aid and essential supplies.
Over 700 firefighters from 84 regional fire departments across the districts of Neunkirchen and Wiener Neustadt responded swiftly. Ground crews worked alongside specialized aerial units, deploying five police helicopters, two private commercial aircraft, and a Black Hawk military helicopter supplied by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Austrian Red Cross contributed 44 emergency personnel and 21 specialized vehicles to assist with evacuations and support those affected.
Lower Austria Activates Level B4 Emergency Response Amid Forest Fire
This incident marks the second major fire within the Föhrenwald area in less than two weeks, following an earlier 100-hectare forest fire that necessitated a five-day suppression effort. Disaster officials confirmed that the new blaze ignited on the opposite side of the forest, with strong winds carrying dense smoke across regional transit routes. Authorities issued warnings urging drivers to steer clear of main roads near Neunkirchen to keep pathways open for emergency convoys.
Klaus Stebal, spokesperson for the Lower Austrian State Fire Department Association, confirmed that emergency teams established a containment perimeter around the fire’s main body to prevent further expansion. Crews also tackled several smaller fires that erupted spontaneously in neighboring towns such as Strelzhof and Netting. Authorities highlighted that strict operational shifts were enforced, ensuring ground crews did not exceed 12 hours of active duty during intense suppression efforts.
Medical Teams Report No Injuries During Early Operations
Preliminary investigations by law enforcement agencies are underway to determine the cause of the afternoon ignition. Officials noted that the earlier wildfire in the same pine forest was caused by legacy World War II phosphorus ammunition buried underground. Although a direct connection between the two fires has not yet been established, environmental conditions across Lower Austria remain extremely dry, increasing regional wildfire risks.
Throughout Friday evening, active monitoring posts remained in place around the Föhrenwald perimeter to safeguard surrounding residential areas. Civil defense authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among residents or first responders during the initial evacuation phase. Meanwhile, technical engineers and forestry specialists are expected to continue perimeter stabilization and hot-spot suppression operations over the coming days.