2021

Fire Risk in Forests has Reached a Critical Level

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System “Copernicus” and announcements distributed by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre show that in the coming days the red warning about extreme heat will be in force throughout the entire territory of Latvia. As a result, forests remain at increased risk of fire, and even the slightest presence of fire can cause devastating forest fires.

“The whole summer has been hot and dry, and although it has rained in some places in Latvia in recent days, the risk of fire in forests has reached a critical level, which will not decrease for at least another week if the hot weather persists. In addition, more and more people are now going to forests as blueberries ripen and the first chanterelles are to be found. In more than 90% of cases, forest fires are caused by reckless handling of fire; therefore, it is extremely important that mushroom- and berry-pickers, as well as holidaymakers are very responsible at this time. Fire is especially dangerous in protected nature territories, because these forests are not maintained and fire spreads in them very fast,” tells Mārtiņš Gūtmanis, Executive Director of Forestry at JSC “Latvia’s State Forests”.

During this unsafe period, 102 forest fires have occurred in the forests managed by JSC “Latvia’s State Forests”, affecting a total of 62 ha. The largest forest fire took place in the nature reserve “Ances purvi un meži”, where the area affected by the fire accounted for 7.8 ha.