A 12-year-old boy admits to causing a massive fire on the Nordkette range in Innsbruck
A large forest fire broke out in the Nordkette mountain range above the city of Innsbruck, leading to a wide mobilization of emergency forces in the Tyrol region. Flames were visible from long distances, raising concerns among residents and authorities. Shortly after the fire broke out, police suspected the use of incendiary materials (fireworks), which was later officially confirmed.
On Sunday morning, a 12-year-old boy arrived at the Innsbruck-Hötting police station accompanied by his father. In front of his father, the boy confessed to causing the fire. The police reported that the boy made a full confession and cooperated with the investigators.
The child was on a walking outing with his family in the Nordkette area, where he ignited fireworks several times. At the site where the fire later broke out, he ignited another firework, which immediately caused the dry grass to catch fire and turn into a blaze.
The people present at the scene tried to extinguish the fire immediately, but their efforts failed due to the dryness, the tall grass, and the steep terrain. After that, the child's father called the fire emergency services. Due to the density of the smoke and the strength of the flames, the family had to leave the site for their safety.
Firefighting operations continued throughout the night and into Sunday. Two police helicopters and two helicopters from the Austrian Armed Forces (Österreichisches Bundesheer) participated, along with twelve fire brigades from Innsbruck-Stadt, Innsbruck-Land, Imst, and Schwaz. The fire is currently under control, but pockets of deep embers are still being extinguished. No injuries have been reported so far, and the extent of the damage remains unknown. After the investigations are completed, a report will be submitted to the public prosecutor's office in Innsbruck.