Authorities have declared a state of emergency in Bavaria's Traunstein district as a mountain forest fire spreads across the Hochwand peak in the Chiemgau Alps. Roughly 2.5 hectares of forest near the Lackenbergwand cliffs, close to Unterwössen, were ablaze by Thursday afternoon after flames first broke out near the summit at nearly 1,000 metres altitude on Wednesday evening.
Around 200 emergency personnel from fire brigades, mountain rescue, and police are fighting the blaze, supported by three firefighting helicopters. Assistance has been requested from Austria, and the B305 federal highway has been closed in both directions. No injuries or evacuations have been reported.
Firefighters face difficult terrain and temperatures around 33 degrees Celsius with wind in the Alpine foothills — conditions similar to a May 2026 blaze at nearby Saurüsselkopf.