Dec 29, 2025
3 min read
Firefighters and helicopters are still battling the fire in the Nordkette forest above Innsbruck.And the mission starts on Sunday…
Firefighters and helicopters are still battling the forest fire in Nordkette, high above Innsbruck.And the operation probably won't end on Sunday.It is now clear that a 12-year-old boy started the fire by repeatedly firing pyrotechnics while climbing.
"On the morning of December 28, 2025, a twelve-year-old Austrian citizen arrived at the Innsbruck-Hötting police station with his father and told the officers that he was responsible for the fire," the police said in a release.As a result, the boy was walking with his family in Nordkette, and the pyrotechnic items were taken several times.
"In the area where the fire later broke out, the boy re-ignited a pyrotechnic device, which immediately started a grass fire," investigators said.The family tried to put out the fire, but had no chance due to the drought, tall grass and steep terrain.The father then made an emergency call and the hikers fled the scene due to smoke and flames.were getting strongerNo one was injured.
People who come to come wait for the fire, but they are not found.
The officers to the release
There may not be a "fire out" on Sunday
The fire was still under control by early afternoon, but emergency services were still busy putting out "a large number of embers," said Marcus Wimmer of the Innsbruck fire department.There will be no final "firing" on Sunday."It's definitely not going to happen," Wimmer told the APA news agency.
This means that additional firefighting work will still need to be done on Monday.The embers must first be removed from the forest floor and then extinguished individually.
Pictures from the first day of the forest fire:
Shortly after noon on Saturday, clouds of smoke were seen over the Nordkette and over the whole of Innsbruck.What started as a small fire turned into a big fire within a few minutes.Meter-high flames can still be seen from Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
It was difficult to reach the source of the fire - and it soon became clear: nothing would work without a helicopter." The helicopters extinguished the fire from the air until nightfall. At the same time, fire brigades were on the spot and fought the fire. It was a big logistical challenge to fight the fire", said the mayor of Innsbruck, Johannes Anzengruber.
23 Explosions at night
During the night there were eight hectares of fire - according to Engengruber, there were 23 fires during the night."It started again on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Four helicopters were used for firefighting, but also for reconnaissance flights. That is why we have imposed a ban between Segrubenbahn and Hottinger Graben. Four helicopters are always there. If they are in the air, no one should measure their safety. This entry ban will be lifted on Sunday.
It is very necessary for the Federal Army to finally establish a helicopter in Tyrol.Helicopters should arrive from Hörsching on Sunday.
BM Johannes Anzengruber
Gambar: Christof Birbaumer
In total, nine fire brigades with 25 vehicles and four helicopters operated or are operating."My thanks go to all the rescue services - thanks also to the Rumi, Zirli and Völs fire brigades who helped us. The fire in Nordkette was not the only fire brigade in action during the weekend," says the mayor.
Three fire services were still working on Sunday: the Hungerberg and Hötting volunteer fire services and the professional fire service!Around 140 firefighters were at the scene, as well as four police and army helicopters.
"Tyrol needs a military helicopter"
The mayor of Innsbruck calls on the army to deploy a helicopter in Tyrol.“On Saturday, we had to wait more than an hour for the helicopter to arrive.Two Federal Army helicopters arrived from Horshing on Sunday.The order of the day is to place a Federal Army helicopter in Tyrol.This is a very good order for security.
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