2024
Vas County heatwave
Short Description
Detailed Description
On June 20, 2024, a fire broke out during the harvest on a wheat field in Egyházashollós. The fire affected four hectares of standing barley. Firefighters from Körmend, Szombathely, Vasvár’s municipal units, and the Vas County disaster management operational service worked from multiple directions using five water jets to contain the flames. The fire was then extinguished with the help of spark catchers and hose reels. A farm machine was also used to assist with the operation by plowing the perimeter of the barley field, preventing the flames from spreading.
On July 12, 2024, a fire burned dry grass over an area the size of two football fields near Adorjánháza. Municipal firefighters from Celldömölk prevented the fire from spreading further with multiple water jets and extinguished the flames using hand tools. A farm machine was again used to help, plowing the affected area to contain the fire.
From September 5 to 9, 2024, nearly a thousand hectares were destroyed by a forest fire in the Csönge area. The flames ravaged the land between Csönge and Kenyeri, and more than a thousand people worked tirelessly to contain the fire. Firefighters from professional, municipal, and volunteer units arrived under the highest alert level to extinguish the fire and protect surrounding villages. More than a thousand people worked beyond their limits to put out the last flames and stop the smoldering and smoke. The firefighting efforts involved professional, municipal, and volunteer firefighters, as well as rescue teams, forestry specialists, national park staff, civilian patrols, emergency medical services, and the police. Agricultural and civilian volunteers played a significant role, transporting water with tankers and creating firebreaks to prevent further spread. The local communities also showed incredible solidarity, ensuring food, drinks, and rest for those fighting the flames. Drones were of immense help in locating areas that needed immediate firefighting intervention.
The firefighting efforts were complicated by the constantly changing winds, the size of the affected area, and the difficulty of accessing certain forested areas. On September 7, due to strong winds, the flames flared up again in several spots, with crown fires in some places. The military’s helicopter provided vital assistance in reaching the hard-to-access areas, continuously supporting the firefighting efforts on September 7 and 8. By the evening of September 7, the flaming fires were under control, and on September 8, the focus shifted to finding and extinguishing any remaining hot spots to prevent reignition. Heavy machinery was used to create protective firebreaks, and water supply for fire trucks was supported by tankers, while drones aided in reconnaissance.
The flames sparked in several hotspots, and in some areas, the fire deeply penetrated the forested regions. On September 7, a military helicopter arrived at the site, helping to fight the fire in these difficult-to-reach areas.
In total, more than a thousand professional, municipal, and volunteer firefighters, rescue team members, forestry specialists, national park staff, civilian patrols, emergency medical services, the police, the military, and civilians participated in the efforts to contain the damage. No injuries or fatalities occurred in any of the incidents. The damage from the fires amounted to 3,000,000 Euros.
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