ST. EGYDEN AM STEINFELD, Austria / RankWire.AI / – Authorities in Lower Austria issued urgent evacuation orders on Friday following a swiftly spreading forest fire in the Föhrenwald pine woodland near St. Egyden am Steinfeld. Local officials confirmed that a significant wildfire is impacting St. Egyden as aggressive flames advanced within 50 meters of residential areas, leading to the activation of the highest emergency alert level, Level B4. Civil defense teams prioritized moving residents along Bahnstraße and within the Waldstrandsiedlung housing complex to safety.
City authorities coordinated with regional disaster response agencies to evacuate at least 250 residents from the danger zone. Mayor Christa Tisch of St. Egyden stated that emergency crews evacuated six homes on Bahnstraße and 50 units across five apartment buildings in the Waldstrandsiedlung neighborhood. The displaced individuals were taken to a temporary shelter at the Saubersdorf volunteer fire station, where humanitarian teams provided crisis assistance and essential supplies.
The swift response involved over 700 firefighters from 84 regional fire departments across the districts of Neunkirchen and Wiener Neustadt. Ground crews worked alongside specialized aerial units, deploying five police helicopters, two private commercial aircraft, and a Black Hawk helicopter supplied by the Austrian Armed Forces. The Austrian Red Cross mobilized 44 emergency personnel and 21 vehicles to support evacuation efforts and assist affected families.
Lower Austria Activates Level B4 Emergency Alert as Firefighters Tackle Major Wildfire
This incident marks the second destructive blaze in the Föhrenwald region within two weeks. Earlier, a 100-hectare forest fire required a five-day firefighting operation. Officials confirmed that the new fire started on the opposite side of the forest, with strong winds carrying dense smoke plumes across nearby transit corridors. Authorities issued warnings to motorists to avoid main roads near Neunkirchen to keep routes clear for emergency vehicles.
Klaus Stebal, spokesperson for the Lower Austrian State Fire Department Association, confirmed that emergency personnel established a containment zone around the main fire to prevent further spread. Firefighters also responded to several smaller fires igniting spontaneously in nearby communities, including Strelzhof and Netting. Officials indicated that strict operational shifts were enforced to prevent ground crews from working more than 12 hours straight during the intense suppression activities.
Emergency Medical Teams Report No Injuries During Initial Response Operations
Investigative units from state law enforcement have begun preliminary assessments to identify the cause of the afternoon fire ignition. Authorities noted that the earlier wildfire in the same pine forest was linked to buried World War II phosphorus ammunition. Although there is no confirmed connection between the two incidents, environmental conditions in Lower Austria remain notably dry, increasing wildfire risks across the region.
Throughout Friday evening, emergency services maintained continuous monitoring stations around the Föhrenwald perimeter to secure nearby residential areas. As the wildfire impacts St. Egyden in Austria, civil defense officials confirmed that there were no injuries among residents or first responders during the main evacuation. Technicians and forestry experts expect ongoing perimeter stabilization and hot-spot suppression efforts to continue in the coming days.