Mistake about "smoke"

Snow cannon caused forest fire alarm in Tyrol

It was indeed smoke and a forest fire. In the end, it was a curious false alarm.(Bild: FF Mieders)

Strange fire alarm on Tuesday morning in the Tyrolean Stubai Valley: A supposed forest fire near Mieders turned out to be a snow cannon that was producing fresh artificial snow. From down in the valley, the artificial white and the rising steam looked like smoke, as the fire department commander told the "Krone" newspaper.

"Forest fire - Serleskamm" - this was the operation code from the Tyrol control center, which went out at around 10.45 am. The Mieders fire department was alerted by siren. "We were already fully staffed at the fire station and were about to leave," explained fire department commander Karl Pajk to the Krone newspaper.

Memories of recent major operations
In times like these, the topic of forest fires is a particularly sensitive one. The memories of the recent events on Innsbruck's Nordkette mountain range shortly after Christmas or in Zirl on New Year's Eve are still too fresh - fireworks caused forest fires there.

No smoke - just artificial snow and steam.(Bild: FF Mieders)

Fortunately, the all-clear was quickly given in Mieders: "A railroad employee informed us that the supposed fire was a running snow cannon," continues Pajk. From down in the valley, it actually looked as if it was on fire.

A lot of "smoke" for nothing ...
In the end, there was a big sigh of relief that it was a strange false alarm. "To be on the safe side, however, we still checked on site. A drone was also deployed." In the end, it was finally clear: a lot of "smoke" for nothing ...