Forest fire in Austria & tips on how to avoid it

Forests in Austria fulfil a variety of tasks - they provide valuable raw materials such as wood, are a source of oxygen and capture CO₂, serve recreation and provide protection against natural hazards. In Austria, the consequences of climate change will also be reflected forests and some forest services will be strongly affected by them.

Forest fires in the Alpine region increasingly important issue

It is assumed that the activity of forest fires will increase world-wide in response to climate change. Some areas, such as the Mediterranean area, face devastating forest fires every year and have long experience in dealing with them. Through targeted research and preventive forest management, efforts are being made to prevent catastrophic events in particularly affected regions. In the Alpine region, forest fires have so far not posed a major threat to human life and infrastructure, as large forest fires occur much less frequently than in the neighbouring Mediterranean region. So far, generally only small areas burn in Austria and no considerable economic or social damage is caused. With the advancing rise in temperature and the changing weather conditions, the danger of extreme forest fire events will also increase in the Alpine region in the future.

Particular threat to the protective function of forests

Past droughts, like those in the summers of 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2015, have demonstrated quite well how forest fires can become an important issue in Austria’s ecosystems - which have so far not been at risk of fire. Mountain forests play a crucial role in the protection of humans against natural hazards. An increase in the occurrence of forest fires may impair the protective function of the forest, increase the vulnerability to other natural hazards, such as avalanches and mudflows, and entail significant costs for technical measures.

Forest fires mostly caused by humans

In Austria, most fires are of anthropogenic origin (but for more than half of these fires we do not know the cause of ignition). About 85 % of all forest fires in Austria are directly or indirectly caused by humans. The causes are very wide-ranging and include carelessly discarded cigarettes, forestry work, bonfires and fireworks just as much as flying sparks on railways and arson. Lightning strikes are responsible for only about 15 % of the forest fires on an annual average. The number of fires per year varies between 100 and 300 in Austria. In Austria, forest fires usually burn areas of up to 1 hectare - larger fires are presently still rare.

Challenges are accepted in Austria and the Alpine region

To be able to manage the future forest fire situation in Austria and in the Alpine region, it is important to improve the exchange of knowledge on pan-European level as well as the communication between the main players, namely the fire brigades, scientists and political decision makers.

Current research focuses on the identification of the main challenges in forest fire prevention, fire fighting and post-event restoration of forest fire areas. In view of climate change, a network of forest fire experts from all Alpine areas has been established to develop options for integrated fire management in the Alps.

Tips for avoiding forest fires

This is how you behave correctly:

1. Do not smoke in the forest.
2. Do not light a fire.
3. Take care when handling bonfires and fireworks.
4. Observe prohibitions when there is a risk of forest fire.
5. Report forest fires immediately to the fire brigade (122).