Dozens of wildfires break out across Finland after controlled burns and debris fires

Dozens of wildfires ignited across Finland on Saturday, many sparked by controlled burns and the burning of brush, prompting fire authorities to urge the public to avoid open fires due to dry conditions, reports Yle.

Major damage in Ostrobothnia

The most severe blaze occurred in Laihia, Ostrobothnia, where a fire that started from burning waste in dry grass spread to a 170-square-meter storage building, destroying it completely. The fire also consumed a utility vehicle and a lawnmower, with the total burn area reaching half a hectare.

In Satakunta, embers from a Friday brush fire reignited on Saturday in Merikarvia, spreading to two buildings, though damage remained minor. On Highway 8, one lane was temporarily closed for firefighter safety as flames approached the road. Additional wildfires were reported in Pori and Eura.

Fires across multiple regions

In North Ostrobothnia, an uncontrolled burn in Taivalkoski destroyed a storage building, while in Raahe, a fire from brush burning spread to a wooden shed and a log storage structure. The region saw at least eight wildfires, with no injuries reported.

Uusimaa’s Nurmijärvi saw a small fire from waste burning threaten a nearby barn, while Pirkanmaa reported multiple incidents in Ruovesi, Sastamala, and Hämeenkyrö, including a blaze at a military firing range in Pirkkala. In Päijät-Häme, a barrel fire in Padasjoki was contained before spreading to nearby forests or buildings.

North Savo experienced seven wildfires by Saturday evening, including a half-hectare blaze in Kuopio from a controlled burn. Fire Chief Jani Kasanen emphasized the danger of open fires under current conditions: “People should not start burning brush, debris, or any open fires right now.”

Wildfire warnings expand

A wildfire warning—banning all open fires—took effect Saturday in North Karelia, where multiple simultaneous fires from brush burning and controlled burns were extinguished near Joensuu. South Karelia also issued a warning after fires in Lappeenranta and Lemi.

In Central Finland, a half-hectare ground-cover fire in Toivakka was suspected to have started from hot ash, with additional blazes in Keuruu and Äänekoski. South Ostrobothnia saw small fires in Alavus and Isojoki threatening outbuildings, while in Kauhava, crews battled a wildfire from a controlled burn.

In Southwest Finland, a fire from burning spruce branches in Mynämäki spread to a field and forest, scorching over half a hectare. A similar-sized blaze in Salo may have been sparked by a tractor.

Wildfire warnings are set to expand to more regions in the coming days as dry conditions persist.