Wildfires Spread Across Lapland as Rescue Teams Respond
Two large wildfires are burning in Lapland, prompting responses from the Lapland Rescue Department and Metsähallitus. The fires, located in Savukoski and Inari, have raised concerns due to their size and challenging access conditions.
In Savukoski, a wildfire broke out on Lokantie Road, a few kilometers from Tanhua. The Lapland Rescue Department received an alert about the fire shortly before 3:00 PM on Wednesday, and the first units arrived at the scene around 4:00 PM. Six rescue units were dispatched to tackle the blaze (Ilta-Sanomat).
Meanwhile, in the northeast of Lake Inari, near Joukhaislompolo, another wildfire has been burning for an extended period. The fire is situated in a remote area with difficult access, making it reachable only by air. The Lapland Rescue Department and Metsähallitus are monitoring the situation, though smoke from the fire may be visible from a distance (Yle; Ilta-Sanomat).
The Lapland region has seen multiple wildfires in recent days. On Monday, a three-hectare cloudberry bog burned in Ranua (Yle). Authorities have issued a wildfire warning for much of Lapland, prohibiting open fires. The Lapland Rescue Department emphasized in a social media post that fire handling must always be done with caution, even when no warning is in effect (Yle; Ilta-Sanomat).