Forest Fire on Innsbruck's Nordkette Fully Contained After Intensive Multi-Day Effort

The recent forest fire on Innsbruck's Nordkette mountain range has been fully extinguished following several days of extensive firefighting operations. The incident, which began on Saturday, prompted a coordinated response involving professional and volunteer fire brigades, as well as multiple helicopters, to manage the challenging conditions posed by the steep terrain and dry weather.

On Tuesday evening, emergency services confirmed that all hotspots had been eliminated, following careful aerial reconnaissance using drones equipped with thermal imaging. Earlier in the day, teams had identified residual embers, necessitating continued intervention. The final assessment revealed no remaining sources of combustion, allowing authorities to declare the situation resolved.

The blaze originated on a forested hillside situated east of the Höttinger Alm and southwest of the Seegrube at roughly 1,500 meters elevation. The affected area was difficult to access, complicating efforts to bring the fire under control. At the height of the emergency, up to 150 personnel, including the Innsbruck professional fire brigade, several local volunteer fire departments, and units from Innsbruck-Land, Schwaz, and Imst districts, were deployed to the site. A visible plume of smoke was observed across Innsbruck and surrounding regions, underscoring the fire's severity.

Support from the air played a crucial role in the operation. Police helicopters from both Tyrol and Salzburg assisted ground teams, while military helicopters were mobilized on Sunday and Monday to help contain the flames. Authorities cited effective inter-agency coordination as a key factor in preventing the fire from spreading to populated areas or threatening critical infrastructure. No injuries were reported, and no buildings or vital installations were at risk during the incident.

Investigations into the cause of the fire have determined that it was accidentally ignited by a twelve-year-old boy. According to police reports, the youth had been handling pyrotechnic devices during a family hike when one was set off, sparking a grass fire. Despite immediate attempts by the family to extinguish the flames, the dry vegetation and steep slope thwarted their efforts. The family subsequently alerted emergency services and left the area due to escalating smoke and fire hazards. Authorities confirmed that a report on the incident would be submitted to the public prosecutor's office, given the possibility of negligent arson charges.

In response to the heightened fire risk across North Tyrol, regional authorities have enacted a comprehensive ban on pyrotechnics and open flames in forests and other vulnerable areas. The measures include prohibitions on lighting fires and discarding burning or smoldering objects, such as matches and cigarettes. These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice, covering at least the first week of January. Additionally, Austria maintains a general prohibition on category F2 fireworks in residential and urban areas, and Innsbruck city officials have issued further regulations banning the use of fireworks, open flames, and smoking in forested zones.

The swift containment of the Nordkette forest fire is attributed to the prompt response and coordinated efforts of emergency services. Authorities have emphasized the importance of abiding by fire safety regulations, particularly during periods of increased risk, to prevent similar incidents in the future.