Major fire in the Hintersteiner Valley: Fire brigade in action with a helicopter!

Major fire in the Hintersteiner Valley: Fire brigade in action with a helicopter!

On Friday, November 7th, 2025, the Hinterstein and Oberstdorf fire departments in the Hintersteiner Valley faced a huge challenge. A major fire that spread above the Sennalpe Laufbichl required courageous and quick reactions. The fire site, which covered an estimated 5,000 square meters, was in impassable terrain, which made the fire department's operations considerably more difficult. Operations manager Christian Fichtl reported that the flames had been visible near Laufbilkirkhe since Thursday evening. The fire spread overnight despite drone surveillance to check the fire site.

The fire department then alerted a cargo helicopter called Helix, which was entrusted with the strenuous task of transporting water from a mountain lake. In a total of 16 flights, the helicopter brought in an impressive 14,400 liters of water to extinguish the last embers. Each flight brought 900 liters of water to the fire site. The use of air support was crucial to stabilizing the situation as the exact cause of the fire remains unclear. However, fire department experts suspect spontaneous combustion.

The region in view

The Hintersteiner Valley and the Oberallgäu are not only known for their scenic beauty, but also for their diverse flora and fauna as well as numerous leisure opportunities. Around 155,413 residents live in the region, who benefit from idyllic excursion destinations such as the Breitachklamm or the Großer Alpsee. District Administrator Indra Baier-Müller, who has often demonstrated a good knack for the region's needs, sees the importance of such operations as part of a comprehensive security awareness. The site where the fire broke out is regularly assessed for suitability for operations to ensure the safety of residents.

An important basis for this is the amended DIN 14090, which specifies new requirements for fire brigade access routes. These written rules, which have been in force since February 2024, require that fire brigade areas are not blocked or built on in order not to hinder operations. The access options must also comply with the appropriate minimum widths and heights and have obstacle-free areas so that the fire brigade can react quickly and efficiently. According to the regulations, for example, driveways must be at least 3.5 meters high and wide and must ensure the necessary passage, even if the terrain at the locations is often challenging. When planning curves, special dimensions must be taken into account in order to meet the requirements of the vehicles.

Joint efforts

As recent operations show, it is essential that local fire departments are well equipped and prepared. The simulated train fire that the Kempten fire department recently trained on the railway tracks is evidence of the constant effort to provide firefighters with the best training in an emergency. Rescue, extinguish, recover and protect – these are not just slogans, but living practices that every fire department implements every day.

The operation on Friday is another example of how important such preparations are in order to be able to act at the crucial hour. The Hintersteiner Valley shows once again that no matter how challenging the conditions are, the community pulls together and does everything it can to ensure safety for everyone.