Wildfires surged in April across Finland, more than doubling last year’s count

Finnish rescue services extinguished 755 wildfires in April, over twice as many as the same month last year, public broadcaster Yle reports. The sharp increase follows an unusually dry spring caused by low winter snowfall and an early thaw.

Many of the fires were human-caused, despite widespread burn bans during wildfire warnings. Over the past week, incidents included children’s fireplay in Riihimäki, a blaze threatening a peat field in Nurmo, and multiple alarms in Espoo, Helsinki, Lohja, and Nurmijärvi. Dry conditions have accelerated fire spread, with spring brush burning further raising risks.

The surge marks a significant rise compared to previous years: April 2024 saw 755 wildfires, up from 352 in April 2023. While other fire types remained stable in statistics, wildfires have spiked due to extreme dryness—particularly in South and North Savo, South and North Karelia, Central Finland, and Pirkanmaa.

Groundwater levels are critically low in Eastern and Central Finland as well as the west coast, with forecasts predicting worsening drought. Rain expected in coming days may reduce wildfire warning zones, though no major relief is anticipated. The Finnish Environment Institute warns that lake levels in Eastern Finland and Pirkanmaa will likely remain below average this summer.