Hungary’s Worst Outdoor Fire of the Year Causes Massive Damage
Efforts to extinguish the largest outdoor fire of the year in Hungary are still ongoing as firefighters and support teams work tirelessly near Csönge. The fire, which has been blazing for four days, has led to the allocation of a HUF 10 billion restoration fund to assist those whose forests have been devastated by fire, drought, or pests.
The fire, which started in Vas County on Thursday, has now spread from agricultural lands into forested areas. Reports suggest that around 1,000 hectares have been affected, with approximately 400 hectares of private forest being consumed by the flames.
On Sunday, approximately 300 individuals were involved in fighting the fire, including 30 staff members from Szombathelyi Erdészeti Plc., the local state forestry company. They have provided crucial support with their knowledge of the area, off-road vehicles, manual labor, and water tankers. The Hungarian Armed Forces, local forestry teams, and volunteers have also joined forces to combat the blaze.
Damage assessments will commence after the fire has been fully contained. The Ministry of Agriculture has indicated that it may take up to a decade to restore the forests. To aid in the recovery process, the ministry has introduced a HUF 10 billion grant program for those impacted by the fires, drought, or biological threats.
Péter Zambó, the state secretary for forests and land affairs, highlighted the importance of preserving and restoring Hungary’s forests, which are a crucial part of the country’s natural heritage. He emphasized that climate change is exacerbating the challenges faced by forests, such as severe droughts and more frequent and intense fires.
The ministry has tripled its funding for forest-related activities from previous budget cycles to around HUF 310 billion. Additionally, new grant opportunities will be available for fire prevention measures, including the creation of firebreaks, firewater reservoirs, and reducing the amount of flammable biomass, with a total of nearly HUF 4 billion being allocated.
The firefighters have successfully managed to extinguish the flames on the outskirts of Csönge in Vas County. Four hundred hectares of undergrowth, brush, straw bales, and forest were burning between Csönge and Kenyeri, as reported by the spokesman of the Vas County Fire Department to MTI on Sunday.
