Austrian fire brigades enhance wildfire response through EU missions and drills

Austrian fire departments are intensifying their wildfire response capabilities through international deployments and large-scale domestic training exercises.

In Sardinia, Italy, 50 specialized members of the Lower Austrian State Fire Brigade Association are participating in an EU prepositioning mission. Operating in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and difficult terrain, the team is supporting local Italian units in combating vegetation fires. The mission serves as a practical exchange, allowing Austrian firefighters to learn Sardinian tactics focused on the highly efficient and economical use of water.

In Salzburg, Austria, the State Fire Brigade Command is conducting a major wildfire drill in Saalfelden. The exercise involves 250 firefighters, police, and mountain rescue teams using 32 vehicles to simulate a large-scale forest fire. The drill focuses on critical logistics, such as aerial water supply via helicopters and managing water transport in rugged terrain, to prepare for increasingly dry weather conditions.