Campfire triggers fire alarm in mountain hut – mountain rescuers on duty!

Campfire triggers fire alarm in mountain hut – mountain rescuers on duty!

An exciting weekend in the Wetterstein Mountains ended with dramatic moments for hikers and mountaineers. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, two mountaineers from the Munich area caused an unexpected alarm in the Schachenhaus mountain hut. The couple's celebratory evening ended abruptly when their campfire produced smoke, which activated a fire alarm in the cabin. Loud Allgäu newspaper The integrated control center was informed at around 8:30 p.m. Fortunately, there was no major intervention by the fire brigade or police as there was no real fire, just smoke.

The hikers quickly extinguished their campfire and the alpine emergency services took down the mountain athletes' personal details, although it remains unclear whether there will be any criminal consequences. The fact that there was no damage to the hut is pleasing, because the Schachenhaus hut, which is located at an altitude of 1,866 meters and offers around 70 beds, has a long history since it was built around 1870.

Operations under difficult conditions

While one group was still in a celebratory mood, three other mountaineers in the Wetterstein Mountains also found themselves in a serious situation this Saturday evening. Loud BR The emergency services from the Grainau mountain rescue service had to take action in extreme weather conditions – including storms and blowing snow. One of the mountaineers had injured his leg with leg pain on the Höllental via ferrata, another had missed the last cable car at the Zugspitze summit, while the third was exhausted on the Hochalm cable car and was no longer able to descend. It wasn't easy for the rescuers and they had to reach the affected people under difficult conditions.

The use of a helicopter was not possible under the given weather conditions, which is why the rescuers took the cable car to the Zugspitze summit and then continued on foot. Two emergency services secured critical passages, while the Munich mountain rescue service ultimately rescued the exhausted person on the Hochalmbahn. Fortunately, all three mountaineers were able to return to the valley safely.

Preparation is key

The different missions over the weekend show once again how important good preparation and respect for the Alpine conditions are. The mountain rescue service repeatedly warns of winter conditions above 2,000 meters altitude, where many mountain huts are currently closed. Tours through the Höllental should only be undertaken by experienced mountaineers, as there are critical areas there, especially above the Höllentalferner glacier. Readiness manager Toni Vogg appeals to mountain athletes to keep an eye on their fitness and equipment and not to overestimate themselves.

For emergencies, mountaineers should use the emergency number 112, which is free for emergency services in Germany, Austria and many other countries. If there is no cell phone reception, it is recommended to turn off the cell phone, restart it and enter 112 without a PIN, as described in the article by Alpine Club is explained.

Overall, the weekend in the Wetterstein Mountains shows that caution is always advised when hiking and mountaineering. Whether at a cozy campfire or on a challenging climb, a good knack for safety is the be-all and end-all!