Two farms on fire

Overnight lightning strike burns down barn on farm

The outbuilding of a farm in Fraham was engulfed by flames during the night

(Bild: Matthias Lauber/laumat.at/laumat)

Twelve fire departments - major alarm on Tuesday night in Fraham in the district of Eferding. The outbuilding of a farm was on fire. A farm also caught fire overnight in the Mühlviertel, where three people were rescued by the fire department but required medical treatment. In each case, the cause of the fire was lightning.

The night-time thunderstorm was announced after the sunny day and rumbled with lightning and thunder: at exactly 11.19 p.m., a strong bolt of lightning struck the farm building in the center of Fraham. Three minutes later, the sirens were already wailing in the surrounding fire departments. Alarm level 2 was triggered because the farm building, which housed bales of straw, hay and vehicles, was on fire.

Drought slows down extinguishing water supply
The large contingent of firefighters was able to prevent the flames from spreading to the adjacent square farm and the building yard building at the last minute. The supply of extinguishing water was difficult because there was little water available in the nearby stream due to the persistent drought. Although the affected part of the building was engulfed in flames, a much larger fire was successfully prevented. No one was injured.

Three residents rescued
In Kefermarkt, on the other hand, three residents of a farm had to receive medical treatment after being rescued from the burning building by the fire department. A total of five people were slightly injured by smoke fumes, four patients were taken to Freistadt Hospital and a hospital in Linz for clarification. Shortly before one o'clock in the morning, the sirens of 13 fire brigades sounded and the volunteers were called into action. Seconds earlier, lightning had discharged and struck the barn.

Bull perished in flames
The helpers also had to evacuate the barn, which housed 65 bulls and around 30 pigs. Help came too late for one animal, all the others could be brought out, some suffered burns. The fire department was also able to prevent the residential building from being engulfed by flames - but it was a very close call, as the flames had almost overcome the fire doors.