Forest fires: caution also advised in Salzburg
timeline
Salzburg meteorologists and the volunteer fire brigades are following the reports of the enormous forest fire in Lower Austria with great attention. Such a sea of flames is currently not to be feared in Salzburg, but caution is advisable.
Several hundred firefighters and dozen helicopter crews have been involved in forest fires in Hirschwang an der Rax in Lower Austria for days. While looking at the latest weather forecasts, predicting strong winds and fanning the flames, experts are watching the situation in Salzburg very carefully.
Not enough rain in Salzburg in the last few weeks
The experts agree that such a sea of flames is currently not to be feared in their own federal state. Nevertheless, caution is now advisable in the Salzburg forests. Here, too, it has not rained for more than 14 days and the sunshine was very intense, according to the ZAMG weather service.
However, because before that around 20 liters of rain per square meter had moistened the ground and the trees had already shed the leaves but not yet completely absorbed the sap, the forest fire risk in Salzburg is present, but is currently still manageable, says the state fire brigade commander.
However, fire brigades and weather experts admit that if the cold front announced for Monday with rain and snow in the mountains is delayed, the situation in Salzburg’s forests could quickly worsen. You are therefore advised to refrain from cigarettes or open fires in the forest.
Forest fire hazard also in Salzburg
More on this in: Wind forecast causes concern for emergency services (noe.ORF.at; October 27, 2021).