2016

Dry weather increases forest fire risk

Despite the fact that spring this year first seemed to be chilly and rainy, it turned out dry and hot. It’s been more than four months since the first registered forest fire. This year 89 forest fire cases have already been registered with the total area of 70 ha, including more than 30 ha of burned young growth. It means that the average territory is 0.8 ha per fire.

The biggest number of forest fires is recorded in Dienvidlatgale (South Latvia) where 36 cases affected 19 ha of forests. In Zemgale forestry there have been 17 fires with the affected area of 23.5 ha.

This year, there were signs of arson in 34 forest fire cases, destroying 17 ha of forests. “Reasons for such harmful actions are far beyond our comprehension. It’s a crime against the forest,” says LVM Senior Forestry Expert Kaspars Riže.

According to the meteorological forecasts, forest fire risk indicator will reach level 5 in Eastern Latvia, especially in Austrumvidzeme region. In the rest of the LVM forestries the situation is not much better, and the indicator has already reached levels 3 and 4 that conforms to high fire risk in the forest.

JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” reminds that in such an unsafe period of time we should be very careful in forests and follow safety requirements. For example, it is forbidden to set up bonfires outside special fire places, drop smouldering or burning matches, cigarette butts and other items, as well as use motorized vehicles off the roads since motor vehicles may cause devastating forest fires.

This year, the State Forest Service has registered 366 forest fires in Latvia, and the area affected by the fire has reached 230.2 ha, including 106.6 ha of young growth.