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Wildfire Near Chiemsee Closes A8 and Burns About 5.5 Hectares

Heavy smoke halted motorway traffic, prompting a sustained ground and aerial firefighting response with operations continuing into Monday morning.

Overview

  • The wildfire was reported late Sunday in a wooded area near Übersee in Landkreis Traunstein and has burned roughly 5.5 hectares of forest and moorland.
  • Around 200 firefighters plus multiple helicopters were deployed to contain the blaze and crews stopped the fire’s spread after securing its edges overnight.
  • Authorities closed the A8 motorway because of heavy smoke, creating multi-kilometre traffic jams on approaches before the closure was later lifted.
  • One firefighter suffered minor injuries during suppression work and officials ordered residents to keep windows and doors closed because of smoke.
  • The cause of the fire remains under investigation and a police helicopter was scheduled to carry out morning water drops as ground and air operations continue.