Hundreds of firefighters were still working Sunday to contain the massive fire at the waste‐recycling facility in Nußdorf‐Debant near Lienz. Late Sunday afternoon, crews were locating and extinguishing smoldering hotspots. Residents of seven East Tyrolean communities were urged to keep windows and doors closed; winds shifted smoke into four additional municipalities, prompting an AT‐Alert. Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) thanked the responders for their “commitment, courage, and high professionalism.”
By nightfall, firefighters had succeeded in keeping the blaze near the district capital at bay and preventing it from spreading to other outdoor‐stored recyclables and buildings, said Elmar Rizzoli, head of Tyrol’s Crisis and Disaster Management Center. Powerful water cannons were deployed to douse flames.
Hotspot Excavation and Reinforcements
Sunday afternoon’s efforts focused on digging out the burn area to reach and extinguish embers. Nearly 200 firefighters from 13 brigades remained on site around the clock, swelling to about 500 with relief crews, the province said. Disaster‐relief units from Kitzbühel, Kufstein, and Carinthia—complete with tanker trucks, pumps, and hoses—joined the fight. Munich’s analytical task force and a measurement platoon from Bolzano were summoned to test for potential pollutants. Vulnerable groups were advised to wear masks outdoors.
Extended AT‐Alert & Local Impacts
The exclusion zone around Lienz remained, with no further explosions after Saturday’s lone blast. Early weekend flames had leapt into a hall, forcing firefighters to pull back temporarily. Contrary to initial reports of six injuries, Rizzoli confirmed five firefighters sustained minor wounds.
At midday, an AT‐Alert was issued for Leisach, Assling, Amlach, and Oberlienz due to shifting winds. The warning for Nußdorf‐Debant, Lienz‐Stadt, Iselsberg‐Stronach, Lavant, Tristach, Dölsach, and Nikolsdorf remained. Residents were told to close windows, doors, and skylights, avoid the vicinity, and disable ventilation and air‐conditioning. Seven other municipalities received hazard notifications about heavy smoke and odor.
Infrastructure Disruptions
Innsbruck police supported local teams and deployed drones to monitor the site. Due to persistent smoke, Lienz’s outdoor pool, Tristacher See, and Dölsach’s indoor pool closed. Train service between Lienz and Oberdrauburg stayed suspended, with bus replacements running—including between Lienz and San Candido/Innichen. Electricity around the plant is cut for safety, though households remain powered.
Political Praise & Future Measures
Governor Mattle lauded “over 500 personnel for their tireless, professional work” and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He thanked Carinthian and Tyrolean reinforcements for their support. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP)—a Lienz native—thanked Tyrol and Carinthia’s responders and the crisis staff led by Mayor Andreas Pfurner of Nußdorf‐Debant for preventing a worse outcome. He said authorities are exploring risk‐reduction measures, including funding for modern safety technology, enhanced training, and fire‐protection upgrades.
