On a hot June day, the Rosenhain lies quiet over the city. Normally, this recreational area in Graz is a place for walks, sport and short breaks in the countryside. But on this Saturday, the tranquillity is shattered: smoke is rising; a fire has spread rapidly in the neighbouring woodland. The fire is threatening the historic Jesuit refectory at the University of Graz. Inside the building itself, the smoke is already clearly noticeable. Ten people are reported missing.
This was the scenario for the emergency drill carried out by the Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade on Saturday, 20 June 2026, at the Rosenhain. Thirty-five firefighters set out in four vehicles to practise responding to an emergency under conditions as close to reality as possible. The scenario was challenging: a wildfire in the immediate vicinity of a historic building, heavy smoke on the upper floor, several people missing and the risk of the flames spreading to the Jesuit refectory. It is precisely these kinds of complex scenarios that the Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade must practise on a regular basis. It supports the Graz Professional Fire Brigade, particularly during storms and major incidents, and is therefore an important part of the city’s civil protection system.
Person in a wheelchair rescued from the top floor
Inside the building, the emergency services initially focused on rescuing people. The stairwell was kept smoke-free using a high-powered fan to create safe escape and rescue routes. This enabled a person in a wheelchair to be successfully evacuated from the second floor. At the same time, a so-called ‘firebreak’ was set up behind the Jesuit refectory: a tactical fire-fighting measure designed to prevent the fire from spreading from the adjacent woodland to the building. Three firefighting crews, along with additional reinforcements from the Graz Fire Brigade, worked closely together on this. After around an hour, the exercise was successfully completed.
For the University of Graz, the operation was an important test. The Jesuit Refectory on Aigner-Rollet-Allee was only completed and occupied last autumn. Today, it houses the Institute for Movement Sciences, Sport and Health. “The cooperation between the Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade and the university’s management worked exceptionally well. Such regular joint exercises with the emergency services are of particular importance to us. They enable us to test procedures under realistic conditions, further strengthen our cooperation and gain valuable insights for use in an emergency. Only through joint training can we ensure that we act swiftly, in a coordinated and efficient manner should an incident occur,” emphasises Thomas Suchy, Central Fire Safety Officer at the University of Graz.
University of Graz and emergency services work closely together
For the Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade, however, the exercise also highlights just how much emergency situations are changing. Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires are no longer issues confined to southern regions; they are now a likely prospect in the Styrian capital as well. “The exercise has shown what we need to be prepared for here in Graz too: forest and wildfires are no longer an abstract scenario. Where woodland, built-up areas and historic buildings are in close proximity, we need well-rehearsed procedures and the right equipment. We therefore train not only in fire-fighting, but also in the coordinated interplay of rescuing people, clearing smoke, evacuating and preventing the fire from spreading to unaffected areas,” emphasises Andreas Grinschgl, commander of the Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade.
The Graz Volunteer Fire Brigade was founded in 2008 and is now an indispensable part of Graz’s civil protection system. Currently, around 160 members – 120 of whom are active volunteers – serve the city on a voluntary basis. Through regular training under realistic conditions, the team is fully prepared for emergencies – and is a reliable partner for the professional fire service and the people of Graz.