Major wildfire near Germanys Chiemsee shuts A8 autobahn as smoke cuts visibility
A major wildfire near Germany’s Chiemsee forced authorities to close the A8 autobahn on Monday morning after thick smoke reduced visibility to dangerous levels, officials confirmed. The blaze, which broke out overnight, prompted emergency services to deploy heavy machinery and aerial support to contain the flames, while motorists faced severe delays on one of Bavaria’s busiest routes.
Emergency crews reported that the fire, located close to the lake’s eastern shore, had already led to the complete closure of the A8 between the Bernau and Prien junctions. Firefighters warned that shifting winds could push smoke across additional lanes, further complicating traffic. Local authorities urged drivers to avoid the area entirely, as visibility dropped below 50 meters in some sections. The closure remained in effect as of 09:00 local time, with no immediate estimate for reopening.
The incident follows a series of wildfires across Europe over the weekend, including a deadly blaze in the United States that claimed the lives of three firefighters battling flames in Utah and Colorado. In Germany, the Gohrischheide wildfire in Brandenburg, which had threatened to spread rapidly on Sunday, was brought under control overnight thanks to overnight rainfall that dampened the dry terrain. Firefighters in Saxony and Brandenburg welcomed the precipitation, which also helped contain a separate blaze near Traisen in the Bad Kreuznach district.
Meanwhile, in Portugal, firefighters continued to battle a stubborn wildfire in Freixo de Espada à Cinta, where more than 150 personnel remained on site despite favorable conditions overnight. Commanders reported that two active fronts had been stabilized, though rugged terrain and scattered small fires prevented full containment. Authorities emphasized that no residential areas were currently at risk.
In Spain, a truck carrying pigs caught fire days ago in Castellón, triggering a massive wildfire that required four helicopters, five planes, and multiple fire brigades to extinguish. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. In Greece, a 78-year-old man was fined €3,000 after starting a barbecue that sparked 44 fires across Attica in a single day.
Across Europe, authorities are attributing the surge in wildfires to prolonged drought and extreme heat, conditions that have become more frequent amid climate change. Fire prevention experts are calling for greater municipal involvement in forest management, with calls for updated municipal forestry plans to reduce risks. As temperatures rise and winds shift, emergency services remain on high alert across the continent.
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