Embers were also fought with the help of four helicopters, “fire out” could not be given according to the military command of Lower Austria. There were 30 fire brigades on the spot, the Wiener Neustadt district command reported. The investigations into the cause have also started.
The flames originated in the outdoor area of a site used as an ammunition store, the military command of Lower Austria specified on Thursday evening. According to an initial assessment, vegetation there, such as dry grass, may have ignited itself, it was emphasized.
Ember nests blaze up again and again
According to the army, large embers flared up again and again in the fire area, especially on Thursday afternoon, due to wind, heat and drought. These were fought with targeted water drops from the air. As on the previous day, there were two Alouette 3 army helicopters flying over the Großmittel military training area. A Black Hawk also arrived in the afternoon. A Bell OH-58 equipped with a thermal imaging camera provided an overview of the fire. Seven army fire engines were also deployed.
So-called fire protection strips were drawn on the affected area with tanks on Thursday. The military command said that the flames could be contained despite the frequent flaring up of embers in this area.
208 firefighters on duty
According to the district command, 308 firefighters were on duty on Thursday. Three KHD trains were also deployed. “Follow-up extinguishing work will again be carried out by the armed forces during the night hours,” was announced in a broadcast in the evening. For (tomorrow) Friday, the use of fire brigade members is planned again.
It was also emphasized on Thursday that the fire was under control. That assessment was made Wednesday evening after the flames were prevented from spreading from the military training area to civilian areas.
In the hours before, hundreds of firefighters were busy with the extinguishing work. NBC defense center forces and tanks were also deployed. Two army helicopters and four helicopters from the Ministry of the Interior were also deployed.
Source: Nachrichten
