News

A Forest Fire Period has been Announced in State Forests. Take Special Care

This year, the State Forest Service has announced a forest fire period throughout Latvia starting on 3 May. This means that you should be extra careful with fire and follow fire safety rules when in the forest. Therefore JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) reminds everyone to avoid any open flames in the forest or its immediate vicinity. Deliberate or careless handling of fire by people is still the most common cause of forest fires.

In Latvia, on average, around 600 forest fires break out and are eliminated during a year. The extent of forest areas affected by fire is influenced by the weather and the habits of forest visitors, and it varies from 90 hectares in 2012 to 3790 hectares in 2006. Last year, the total area of the forest affected by the fire was 636 hectares in a wide territory.

“In Latvia’s state forests, you can move around freely, spend the night in tents, and visit more than 300 tourist sites. To relax in nature, it is strictly forbidden to arbitrarily build campfires in forest during the fire period. In many places, there are campfires in the recreation areas arranged by LVM. It should be remembered that before leaving, the fireplace should be cleaned, you should make sure that the fire is extinguished by pouring water or sprinkling sand because the main cause of forest fires is people's deliberate, unconscious or careless handling of fire,” says Edijs Leišavnieks, LVM Forest Protection and Fire Fighting Manager.

LVM reminds that during the forest fire period, one should be especially cautious and careful in the forest and strictly observe the fire safety requirements, such as, for example, it is forbidden to light fires, except in specially designed fireplaces, to drop smouldering or burning matches, cigarette butts and other objects in the forest, as well as to drive motorized vehicles.

LVM's economic activities are carried out by maintaining and recovering forests, taking care of nature conservation, recreation opportunities and increasing timber volumes, as well as investing in expanding the forestland and developing forest infrastructure – renovation of drainage systems and forest road construction.