Truck Fire Causes Major Disruption on Austria’s A10 Tauern Autobahn
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A truck fire in the Brentenberg Tunnel on Austria’s A10 Tauern Autobahn caused significant damage and a lengthy closure on Friday, January 9, 2026.The incident, which began around 6:00 p.m., involved a semi-trailer truck colliding with the tunnel’s avalanche barrier before catching fire, prompting a large-scale emergency response.
Collision and Initial fire
The accident occurred near the tunnel portal, where the truck initially struck the road barrier of the avalanche protection system and afterward impacted the left side of the tunnel entrance. The force of the collision ignited the truck and its cargo – consisting of empty packaging material. According to reports, the impact was severe enough to separate the driver’s cab from the tractor unit, causing considerable deformation.
Dramatic Rescue Operation
The driver, remarkably, was able to extricate himself from the severely damaged cab and initially escaped further into the tunnel. However, he collapsed approximately 50 meters from the point of impact. Responding fire brigade crews quickly located the driver using a cross connection within the tunnel and transferred him to the Red Cross for medical attention. The extent of the driver’s injuries remains unknown at this time.
Fire Contained, Structural Damage Assessed
within minutes, the truck was fully engulfed in flames and ultimately burned out completely. Fire brigades from werden, Pfarrwerfen, Golling, and Bischofshofen worked swiftly to contain the blaze, declaring “fire out” at 7:30 p.m. Despite the rapid response, significant damage to the tunnel structure was unavoidable. The tunnel, recently renovated to meet current safety standards and utilized extensively for fire department training exercises last year, sustained considerable heat damage.
Traffic Impact and Recovery efforts
Fortunately, because the fire originated near the tunnel portal, all vehicles within the tunnel were able to exit safely in the direction of travel. However, the A10 was completely closed in both directions between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. to facilitate firefighting and salvage operations. The removal of the burned-out truck continued late into the night, and the reopening of the Salzburg carriageway remains uncertain.
Extensive Emergency Response
A total of 110 emergency personnel from the fire department, utilizing 20 vehicles, were deployed to the scene. They were supported by the Red Cross, which provided 15 emergency personnel, 6 vehicles, and 3 emergency doctors. Law enforcement and ASFINAG,the Austrian highway operator,coordinated extensive closure measures and traffic management.
Why did this happen? A semi-trailer truck collided with the avalanche barrier of the Brentenberg Tunnel on the A10 Tauern Autobahn around 6:00 p.m. on January 9, 2026. The impact ignited the truck’s cargo of empty packaging material.
Who was involved? The incident involved the truck driver, who was rescued by emergency personnel, and 110 responders from the fire department and Red Cross, along with law enforcement and ASFINAG.
What was the extent of the damage? The truck was completely destroyed by fire, and the tunnel sustained significant heat damage. The Salzburg carriageway remained closed late into the night for salvage operations and structural assessment.
How did it end? Fire brigades declared the fire “out” at 7:30 p.m. The driver was rescued and received medical attention. The burned-out truck was being removed,but the tunnel’s reopening date remained uncertain as of
