In 2018, Sweden boiled.
About 50 forest fires broke out at the same time and the rescue service was forced to use water-bombing aircraft from Italy, Portugal and Germany.
Even this year’s summer can be very hot – and you prepare for the worst.
– We have both helicopters and airplanes that are ready, says rescue leader Johan Szymanski.
It was above all during the month of July 2018 that 25,000 hectares of forest were on fire, as a result of a thunderstorm that passed over the country.
This year, a number of forest fires have already raged and burning bans are in place in several places. At the same time, there is a great risk of more fires both now and in the future as this year’s summer is expected to be both hot and dry.
That is why the emergency services are preparing to deal with what is to come – if it were to be as bad as five years ago.
– Worried is the wrong word, but it is clear that we are preparing in different ways, because we do not want to end up in the same situation as in 2018, says Johan Szymanski.
The ability is developed
The Swedish rescue service learned many lessons that summer, says the rescue leader.
– There are many aspects to look at, but such a clear and simple thing is flying resources. In 2018, Sweden had no helicopters on standby at all, while today the capability is significantly more developed. We have both helicopters and airplanes at the ready.
It is partly about increased preparedness, but also partly about the fact that today rescue resources are managed in a different way, over larger areas, he explains.
Better education
– Then education is also an important issue. The firefighters have much better training, but also the commanders, so you have the ability to see already today how a fire will spread tomorrow, and that means you have the opportunity to gain altitude and send resources so that we are outnumbered, says Johan Szymanski .
The same thing really applies to all types of fires; to stop them in time.
– Most fires are small in the beginning and it is important to detect them early. Today, we also have systems for satellite monitoring, so that we get a small ping when a fire has been found out in the terrain.