Major fire breaks out in the heritage village of Hallstatt.

According to the Austrian news agency APA, the fire broke out at 3:30 a.m. in the heart of the lakeside village of Hallstatt in the Gmunden district. Initial investigations indicate the fire originated in a wooden shack and spread to another shed and two houses across the street from Seestraße. Neighbors discovered the fire and immediately notified the fire department.

Two wooden huts were completely destroyed by the fire. To date, the unexpected blaze has damaged four buildings. However, residents living around the houses were able to reach safety in time. There is still no official information regarding the cause of the fire.

Eight fire crews, comprising over 100 people, were mobilized to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighboring wooden houses. "Because Hallstatt is very narrow, the adjacent houses have suffered significant damage. Firefighters are still working to monitor the spread of the fire," said Julian Pichler, an employee from the Hallstatt Volunteer Fire Service.

Although residents were evacuated in time, one firefighter was seriously injured during the firefighting operation and was escorted to Salzburg Salzkammergut Bad Ischl Hospital.

Hallstatt State Highway L548 remains completely closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Hallstatt Mayor Alexander Scheutz (SPO) is urging tourists to avoid the area this weekend to ensure safety and prevent disruption to the cleanup and investigation process.

Hallstatt is an ancient village and a very popular tourist destination in Austria. Approximately 800 people currently live there. Every day, Hallstatt welcomes over a million tourists. Information about the fire is currently attracting significant public attention due to its danger and the damage it could cause to a unique world cultural heritage site.

My Tong