Austria forest fires scorch 40,000 sqm, close S31 highway and disrupt South Tyrol rail line

A large forest fire broke out near Sieggraben in the Mattersburg district of Austria, burning about 40,000 sqm. Around 300 firefighters from multiple districts, supported by units from Lower Austria, fought the blaze. The cause is under investigation. The fire forced a partial closure of the S31 highway in the direction of Oberpullendorf, and the area remained under watch with thermal‑imaging cameras until the fire was fully extinguished.

On the same day a separate fire erupted in the Lobau area of Essling, prompting the deployment of 20 professional fire vehicles, helicopters from the interior ministry and additional crews from Lower Austria. Police, the forest service and a drone unit were also on site, but the nearby oil harbour was not threatened. In Burgenland, four hectares of vegetation near Sieggraben also burned, involving 31 fire brigades, 71 vehicles and roughly 300 personnel. High temperatures, extreme dryness and strong winds hampered the operations.

A slope fire near the Brenner railway line in South Tyrol, Italy, caused temporary interruptions to long‑distance train services, affecting two ÖBB trains heading toward Italy and Innsbruck.