Bavarian forest fire near Chiemsee forces A8 highway closure

A forest fire broke out in a wooded and moor area near the town of Übersee in the Traunstein district of Bavaria shortly before midnight on Sunday. The blaze engulfed approximately 5.5 hectares – about the size of eight football fields – and prompted the closure of the A8 motorway near the Chiemsee lake. Around 200 emergency personnel, including firefighters, rescue services, mountain rescue, the Technisches Hilfswerk and dozens of helicopters, were deployed to fight the flames. One firefighter sustained light injuries during the operation.

Traffic on the A8 remained congested even after the road was reopened, and authorities warned nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut because of smoke. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The incident caused significant local disruption but resulted in no fatalities.