Several operations

Lightning strikes kept the fire departments on their toes

The damaged barn roof after the fire in Buchschachen - a lightning strike is suspected as the cause.

(Bild: Schulter Christian)

Due to the heavy thunderstorms, the fire departments in Burgenland had to be called out several times at the weekend. Fortunately, no one was injured during the operations. A fire in a barn in Buchschachen was probably also caused by a lightning strike. 

There was already an operation in Walbersdorf (Mattersburg district) on Saturday afternoon. Lightning had struck the chimney of a detached house. Using a telescopic boom lift, the Mattersburg and Walbersdorf fire departments collected debris lying around on the roof and removed loose parts of the chimney.

After a lightning strike: The Walbersdorf and Mattersburg fire departments removed the debris from the roof of the house.

(Bild: FF Mattersburg)

Fire in a barn
A fire broke out in a barn in Buchschachen (Oberwart district) on Sunday night. Six fire departments were alerted and were able to prevent worse with a targeted rapid attack.

The helpers managed to quickly bring the fire under control. The fire was prevented from spreading to the entire roof truss and adjacent parts of the building. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but a lightning strike is most likely due to the heavy thunderstorms.

Pasture struck by lightning
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the fire department in Kemeten (Oberwart district) also had to be called out. Lightning struck a pasture next to the B 57, causing branches and leaves to land on the road. The emergency services then cleared the traffic routes again. They are now investigating whether the tree needs to be removed. 

In Kemeten, a tree on the main road was struck by lightning

(Bild: Christian Schulter)

Oak tree threatened to fall on chapel
In Jennersdorf, a tree threatened to destroy the Hubertus Chapel on Sunday. The mighty oak had been uprooted by the rain and got caught in a forked branch right above the roof of the chapel. The fire department pulled the tree away using a cable winch. Fortunately, no one was injured in any of the operations.