By helicopter to the fire

Forest fire: emergency services battle the flames

The emergency services will be flown to the scene of the fire by helicopter.(Bild: FF St. Jakob im Rosental)

On Sunday evening, 30 square meters of a forest on the Kapellenberg in St. Jakob im Rosental (Carinthia) were still on fire. By Monday morning, it was already around 200 square meters. The fire, which was triggered by a lightning strike in the steep and inaccessible terrain at 850 meters above sea level, demanded everything from the emergency services. 

Six fire departments with 70 firefighters have been working above the village of Maria Elend since 5am. They are supported by the Libelle police helicopter and the flight service of the provincial fire brigade association. They fly in the extinguishing water and the firefighters themselves. "The location of the fire is almost impossible to reach by vehicle. It would be a very long and arduous walk to the scene of the fire," explains Thomas Warmuth, spokesman for the Villach-Land district fire brigade command.

The extinguishing water and the firefighters themselves are flown to the scene of the fire by helicopter.(Bild: FF St. Jakob im Rosental)

The forest floor was dug up by hand by the firefighters to allow the extinguishing water flown in to penetrate effectively(Bild: FF St. Jakob im Rosental)

Lightning strikes
A member of Naturefriends Carinthia had discovered the fire the evening before - and immediately raised the alarm. At the time, around 30 square meters on the Kapellenberg were affected. Lightning had struck a tree and set it on fire. "Unfortunately, the fire spread overnight. We hope that the firefighters will be able to contain the flames. Otherwise other fire departments will have to be alerted." The forest floor was dug up by hand to make it easier for the extinguishing water to penetrate.

According to the plan on Monday evening, the Maria Elend fire brigade will keep watch over the fire for a few more days.