Around 70 forest fires in March 2022 in Austria – Vienna Online – Austria
Experts from the Institute for Silviculture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna explained that March 2022 was one of the most intense forest fires in the past ten years.
Around 70 have been counted so far. Most recently, in March 2012, there were more forest fires than this year, when 100 were registered. The risk of outbreak is currently very high due to the drought, fortunately the risk of the fire spreading and its high intensity is relatively low.
Around 70 forest fires in March 2022 in Austria
According to the expert, a cigarette or a flying spark would suffice to start a fire on south-facing slopes in almost all of Austria. However, the risk of spreading, which depends largely on the wind, is only moderate as long as there is no foehn. On Wednesday, however, things can still get critical in this regard.
Drought was a major contributor to forest fires
As far as the intensity of a forest fire is concerned, the wind and the vegetation also play a role here. However, it is more important to take into account the drought in the past year. And here there was still heavy rainfall in December, which is why there were soon no crown fires. And according to Müller, normal ground fires can be brought under control relatively easily by the fire brigade. The situation is different if the drought continues in the future.
April 2020 with over 100 forest fires in Austria
In the past, April 2020 was a very special year with over 100 forest fires. And according to the expert, in the summer of 2013, in just three weeks from July into August, there were over 100 fires.