Call to Citizens:

Fire Department Seeks Reserves of Water for Firefighting

In Helfenberg, there is great concern that there might not be enough water available for firefighting(Bild: Kerschbaummayr Werner)

1.6 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Helfenberg in the Mühlviertel region over the past two days. Not even a single drop to raise the fallen groundwater levels—and no relief from the effects of the drought. In this community of barely 1,200 residents, the fire department is now calling on residents to report any firewater reserves.

“Since the drinking water situation in our community is currently becoming dramatically worse, our hydrant network is also affected. The available water reserves for firefighting are therefore severely limited. This makes it all the more important to use the available drinking water sparingly and to avoid unnecessary water consumption at all costs,” the fire department urges residents to conserve water on social media. 

Going a Step Beyond Water Conservation
And they’re taking it a step further: “In the event of a fire—which we hope will never occur—we’re looking for additional potential firefighting water reserves in addition to the already known water intake points. Do you have a filled pool, a pond, a water-filled septic tank, or another water container on your property? If so, we’d appreciate it if you’d report these water reserves to us.”

“Only in an emergency”
The exact location and the amount of water should also be reported so that emergency responders can draw up a plan for where water can be obtained via the shortest route in the event of an emergency. They promise to tap into these reserves only in an emergency.

Fire Pond Was Empty During Fire
During a fire early Tuesday morning, emergency responders experienced the consequences of the drought firsthand. Since the burning farm was located away from the town’s water main and the fire pond had effectively dried up, a two-kilometer-long fire hose line had to be laid.