
A massive fire at a farmstead in Forstau (Pongau) kept around 200 emergency personnel from fire departments across Salzburg and Styria working through the night into Saturday.
The blaze engulfed a barn and an adjacent building, while the intense heat caused the roof of a nearby residential structure to catch fire. Fortunately, firefighters managed to save the home just in time, according to reports from the police and fire department.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene around 11:00 PM, where the glow from the fire was visible from a distance. The property, which housed machinery, fuel, and hay, contributed to the severe heat, prompting authorities to declare alarm level four. Firefighters faced the additional challenge of laying water lines over a two-kilometer stretch to protect the remote location.
All residents and animals were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The fire was controlled by approximately 3:00 AM, though firefighting efforts are expected to continue for another 24 hours. The cause of the fire and the total damage remain under investigation. The operation involved twelve fire departments, the Red Cross, and the police, with over 220 personnel on the scene.