A fire at a wood pellet plant in the town center of Mattighofen (Braunau district) led to a major firefighting operation on Friday morning. An adjacent residential building was evacuated. Due to the massive smoke development, nearby residents were urged to keep their windows closed. One firefighter sustained minor injuries while battling the flames.
According to the Upper Austria State Warning Center, an explosion at the pellet plant likely triggered the fire, and the facility was reported to be fully engulfed in flames. The AT-Alert system was activated—a warning message sent directly to all logged-in mobile phones in the area. Residents were asked to keep windows shut and turn off ventilation systems due to the heavy smoke. The endangered area in the town center was to be avoided. The cause of the explosion remained unclear for the time being.
Residential building evacuated
By the afternoon, an office building was still burning, but the fire was largely under control. Fourteen fire departments from surrounding areas, with about 160 responders and 19 vehicles, were deployed, said Braunau district fire commander Franz Baier in an interview with APA. One firefighter suffered circulatory issues and was slightly injured, but otherwise no additional injuries were initially reported.
The spread of flames to an adjacent residential block was prevented, Baier noted. Residents were temporarily evacuated but would soon be able to return to their apartments. The firefighting and overhaul operations at the company site will continue for some time and are expected to last through the weekend.
