Wildfires continue to burn across Lapland
Recent thunderstorms have also sparked several fires across the dry landscape, rescue officials say.
Over the weekend, the Lapland Rescue Department responded to multiple wildfires. Approximately 30 hectares are burning in Siika-Kämä, Ranua and about 15 hectares in Mykräsuo, Posio. Both fires began on Saturday.
Firefighting efforts in Ranua are expected to continue for several more days. Dozens of people have been involved in extinguishing the fires, supported by helicopters from the Border Guard and Defence Forces.
Smaller wildfires were also reported in Posio, Ranua, Tervola, Kittilä, Salla, Ivalo, and Savukoski, where a thunderstorm front sparked several blazes.
Last week, multiple wildfires broke out across Finnish Lapland, including in Savukoski, Utsjoki, Pello, and Kemijärvi.
Hot weather effects
Lapland Rescue Department personnel have been warning that the region’s terrain remains extremely dry following Lapland’s recent heatwave..
According to FMI, the Meltosjärvi observation station in Ylitornio recorded a 21-day heatwave, marking the longest such streak in Lapland since 1961.
The rescue department also told Finnish News Agency STT that nearly every day last week, several exhausted hikers were rescued from Lapland’s wilderness. Some hikers reportedly vomited due to the extreme heat, with multiple cases occurring daily, the rescue service said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Surge in boreal wildfires may—surprisingly—slow Arctic warming: study, CBC News
Finland: Last week’s wildfires in Northern Lapland cost taxpayers more than €100k, Yle News
Norway: Smoke from Canadian wildfires forecast to reach Norway, The Associated Press
Russia: New NOAA report finds vast Siberian wildfires linked to Arctic warming, The Associated Press
Sweden: High risk of wildfires in many parts of Sweden, including North, Radio Sweden
United States: Wildfires in Anchorage? Climate change sparks disaster fears, The Associated Press
