2019

During the Season of Drought, Fires Spread outside Forests

The drought and heat of spring this year have contributed to high fire hazards in Latvian forests. Even the experienced JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) foresters find it difficult to remember the situation when forest fires would have devastated not only growing forests, but also forest road infrastructure objects such as culverts.

A forest fire that broke out in LVM Southern Latgale Region in Rubene Rural Territory (Jēkabpils Municipality) spread to 500 m2. The fire devastated not only the forest ground cover and trees, but also elements of infrastructure - culverts. A 10-metre-long and 0.5-meter-wide culvert was damaged. Under the influence of heat, the culvert was deformed and its ends completely burnt.

According to Edijs Leišavnieks, LVM Forest Protection and Fire-fighting Manager, careless handling of fire is the main cause of fires. “In such circumstances, when everything is dry in the forest, it is absolutely irresponsible and dangerous to make an open fire. From a small flame, it can instantly turn into a devastating and uncontrollable forest fire that burns down a large area. It is important to be careful and attentive,” the LVM expert reminds.

On 1 May, a forest fire broke out near the populated area of Biksti, where the total forest area affected by the fire accounted for 9.3ha; the fire had stared not far from the railway. In turn, a fire in a state forest near Viļāni that devastated 4.8 hectares had started at a pedestrian footpath.

“According to the information published on the website of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, April of this year has become the driest April in the history of observations (since 1924). The total rainfall in Latvia in April was 3.0 mm, which is 91% below the monthly norm (34.0 mm). The previous smallest rainfall in April was recorded in 1974, reaching only 5.0 mm. Moreover, together with last April this is the third warmest observation in the history.

It should be remembered that, according to the State Forest Service order, with this year's 19 April a fire-hazardous period has been set in forests throughout the country, and every one must comply with the fire safety regulations.

In forests and marshes, it is prohibited to: