As LHStv. Stephan Pernkopf (ÖVP) informed the APA on Saturday morning after a briefing that two Canadair planes of the Italian government will arrive in the early afternoon. On (tomorrow) Sunday, two special helicopters will land that will be sent from Germany to Lower Austria.

Canadair machines carry 7,000 liters of water

According to Pernkopf, the two CL-415 Canadair machines from Italy each have a capacity of around 7,000 liters. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the plan is for the two aircraft to take the water they need from the New Danube in Vienna. Ultimately, the pilots – “top-class specialists”, as Lower Austria’s vice-president remarked, also decide on the exact take-off points.

Special helicopters come from Germany

The special helicopters that will arrive on Sunday hold 5,000 liters each. “We assume that we will be able to deny that we will die with it in the next few days,” the ÖVP politician looks ahead. As early as Friday, in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior, aircraft capacities in neighboring countries were queried “in order to be prepared for all eventualities”. The support from Italy and Germany is now based on European neighborhood aid. Lower Austria, too, has lately lent a hand again and again in this context, recalled Pernkopf, among other things, of the deployment of numerous firefighters in the forest fires in North Macedonia in August.

Italy sends fire-fighting planes

“Italy immediately agreed to send two fire-fighting planes. Germany also offered two helicopters. This shows once again how well European solidarity works in natural disasters,” said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) in a broadcast.

Saturday “major operation day”

Pernkopf described Saturday as a “large-scale deployment day”. There are ten helicopters in the air over the Rax area, six from the Department of Defense and four from the police. Two helicopters are aircraft with a capacity of up to 3,000 liters.

750 emergency services in the event of a forest fire in the Rax area

According to the state fire brigade commander Dietmar Fahrafellner, “40 forest fire fighters are deployed in the rough terrain”. The total number of emergency services was 750 on Saturday. There was a “strong fanning of the fire” overnight. Now the flames would have to be fought again “from several sides”. A so-called defense line has now also been built on the ridge to prevent the flames from jumping over and thus preventing further spread.

Machines from Italy are already flying today

According to Fahrafellner, the first flights of the Canadair planes are planned for the evening hours and Sunday morning. “With the measures we hope that the situation can be brought under better control.”

The armed forces, together with the flight operations command, keep an eye on the airspace above the forest fire area. “With our experience in dealing with international forces, we will ensure the best possible integration and coordination of aid from Italy and Germany in this fight,” stated Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) in a broadcast.

Topographical difficulties

Praise came from Pernkopf for the previous approach to the forest fire. It works “well in spite of the most difficult situations”. The “task forces perform superhuman”, referred to the state vice-president, among other things, on the topographical difficulties in the Rax area.

Help also from Salzburg

Firefighters from numerous districts of Lower Austria are on duty. Six flight assistants from Salzburg fire brigades were also on the spot on Saturday, and special forces from Styria were also requested.

The flames broke out on Monday. The fire spread extremely quickly – from five to more than 100 hectares in ten hours.

Police suspect “foreign ignition source”

With regard to the cause of the fire, the police assume a “foreign ignition source”. Surveys of the surroundings, for example also in surrounding huts, are carried out. Numerous notices have already been received.

(Source: APA)