Forest fire erupts near Inari and Angelin in Finland, consuming 10 hectares of woodland

A forest fire has broken out along the road between Inari and Angelin, primarily affecting pine-dominated woodland along with a clear-cut area. The Lapland Rescue Service received an alert about the blaze at 4:30 PM, which was reported by an overhead surveillance aircraft. Currently, the fire has consumed at least 10 hectares of forest.

Seven rescue units from Inari, Ivalo, and Karigasniemi are actively working to extinguish the flames. “The firefighting efforts will continue well into the night and possibly until morning,” stated duty fire chief Ville Rankinen from the Lapland Rescue Service.

Additionally, the Aslak rescue helicopter has been dispatched to the scene, retrieving water from a nearby lake to assist in combating the fire. A small summer cottage, a storage shed, and a caravan on the property have been destroyed, but fortunately, there were no people in the structures at the time.

While the cause of the wildfire remains unclear, fire chief Rankinen noted that the northern region has experienced dry and windy conditions for an extended period, which may have contributed to the fire’s ignition. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.