2018 Sweden wildfires
{{Short description|Wildfires in Sweden during mid-2018}}
{{Infobox wildfire
| title = 2018 Sweden wildfires
| image = File:Scandinavia temperature anomaly 2018.jpg
| caption = Scandinavia temperature anomaly map, July 1–15, 2018 (NASA)
| cost =
| total_fires = {{circa}} 50 — as of 23 July
| total_area = {{cvt|250|km2|-1}} — as of 23 July
| date = May – August 2018 (peak in July)
| injuries =
| fatalities = 0
| is_season =
| year = 2018
| season_name = Sweden wildfires
}}
In the summer of 2018, a large number of wildfires (primarily forest fires) occurred throughout much of Sweden. According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, they are the most serious in the country in modern history.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180717/sweden-battles-most-serious-wildfire-situation-of-modern-times-heres-what-you-need-to-know|title=What you need to know about Sweden's historic wildfire outbreak|date=17 July 2018|publisher=The Local|accessdate=25 July 2018}} The summer was unusually warm and dry, significantly raising the risk of fire. Firefighters from multiple countries were involved in fighting the fires.{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/sa-tog-branderna-over-den-svenska-sommaren|title=Så tog bränderna över den svenska sommaren|date=30 July 2018|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Lindstam |first2=Martin }} Many people were evacuated from their homes,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/europe/eu-nations-help-sweden-as-wildfires-rage-above-arctic-circle/2018/07/20/2f921770-8c27-11e8-9d59-dccc2c0cabcf_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720154854/https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/world/europe/eu-nations-help-sweden-as-wildfires-rage-above-arctic-circle/2018/07/20/2f921770-8c27-11e8-9d59-dccc2c0cabcf_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2018|title=EU nations help Sweden as wildfires rage above Arctic Circle|date=20 July 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=31 July 2018}} but there were no fatalities.{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/7/24/17607722/wildfires-sweden-greece-europe-arctic-circle-heat-wave|title=Wildfires have ignited inside the Arctic Circle|date=24 July 2018 |publisher=Vox|accessdate=25 July 2018}}
Heatwave and cause of fire
{{main|2018 European heat wave}}
File:Swedenfireszm tmo 2018198.jpg]]
Sweden experienced an unusually long heatwave and had only {{cvt|13|mm|in}} of rain from the beginning of May to late July.{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/sweden-rushes-firefighting-aircraft-to-tackle-fast-spreading-wildfires/a-44739777|title=Sweden rushes firefighting aircraft to tackle fast-spreading wildfires|date=19 July 2018|publisher=Deutsche Welle|accessdate=25 July 2018}} May 2018 was the warmest May and July 2018 was the warmest July ever recorded in Sweden.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/vader/extrema-varmen-i-maj-krossar-rekorden/|title=Extrema värmen i maj krossar rekorden|date=29 May 2018|publisher=expressen.se|language=Swedish|accessdate=4 February 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/qnBO9O/smhi-bekraftar-rekordvarm-juli-i-ar|title=SMHI bekräftar: Rekordvarm juli i år|date=31 July 2018|publisher=Aftonbladet|language=Swedish|accessdate=31 July 2018}} As of mid-July, temperatures in Scandinavia were more than {{convert|10|C-change|0}} above normal.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/record-breaking-heat-hits-norway-finland-and-sweden-20180718-p4zs3x.html|title=Record-breaking heat hits Norway, Finland and Sweden|first=Jason|last=Samenow|date=18 July 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=25 July 2018}}
Several of the fires were started by people using disposable barbecues, despite temporary bans on their usage put in place due to the dry weather conditions.{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/varmland/grillar-orsaken-till-flera-brander-i-helgen|title=Grillar orsaken till flera bränder i helgen|date=16 July 2018|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|accessdate=25 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Moll |first2=Sara }} Some were started by lightning strikes.{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/varmland/stor-skogsbrand-vid-furtan-utanfor-arvika|title=Två skogsbränder härjar i Värmland – franska flyg hjälper till|date=30 July 2018|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Buvik |first2=Annica }}
Wildfires also occurred in the neighbouring countries Denmark, Finland and Norway, but no casualties due to wildfires were reported in Scandinavia.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/18/europe/sweden-wildfires-intl/index.html|title=Dozens of wildfires are raging across Sweden|author1=Rory Smith|author2=Judith Vonberg|author3=Brandon Miller|publisher=CNN|date=18 July 2018|accessdate=25 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20180726/subterranean-wildfire-rages-in-denmark|title=Subterranean Wildfire Rages in Denmark|website=thelocal.dk|date=26 July 2018|accessdate=31 July 2018}}
Timeline
The first significant wildfires in Sweden were recorded in May,{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/flera-skogsbrander-rasar-i-sverige|title=Flera skogsbränder runt om i Sverige|date=23 May 2018|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|language=Swedish|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Jacobsson |first2=Alexander }} and by 23 July there were more than fifty,{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180723/french-soldiers-land-in-sweden-to-battle-wildfire-inferno|title=French soldiers land in Sweden to battle wildfire inferno|date=23 July 2018|publisher=thelocal.se|accessdate=25 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44917545|title=In pictures: Fighting the Swedish wildfires|date=22 July 2018|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=25 July 2018}} covering {{cvt|250|km2|abbr=on|-1}}.{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2018/07/barents-region-fire|title=Barents Region is on fire|date=23 July 2018|publisher=thebarentsobserver.com|accessdate=25 July 2018}} The fires were distributed throughout much of Sweden, ranging from north of the Arctic Circle to the southernmost county of Scania. The largest areas lost to fire are in Gävleborg and Jämtland, each {{cvt|85|km2|abbr=on}}, followed by Dalarna at {{cvt|25|km2|abbr=on|0}} and Västernorrland at {{cvt|5|km2|abbr=on|0}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.lidingosidan.se/lidingo/250-km2-har-brunnit-lidingos-yta-30-8-km2/|title=250 km2 skog har brunnit. Lidingös yta = 31 km2|date=31 July 2018|publisher=Lidingo Sidan|language=Swedish|accessdate=31 July 2018}} Based on data from the last decade, the expected number of wildfires in July would be three.{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2018/07/20/this-chart-explains-how-unusual-sweden-s-wildfire-problem-is|title=Data shows Sweden's wildfire problem is unusual|date=20 July 2018|publisher=Euronews|accessdate=25 July 2018}} It is highly unusual for areas of this size to be affected by wildfires (both individual fires and total size of all), but historically there have been larger, notably in 1888 where {{cvt|2000|km2|abbr=on}} burned.{{cite web|url=http://www.unt.se/kultur-noje/det-har-med-i-modern-tid-3340545.aspx|title=Det här med "i modern tid"|date=7 September 2014|publisher=Upsala Nya Tidning|language=Swedish|accessdate=3 August 2018}}
Most affected areas in 2018 have relatively low human population densities,{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/waldbraende-in-schweden-so-ist-die-lage-vor-ort-a-1220072.html|title=Mit Feuer gegen Feuer|publisher=Spiegel Online|date=26 July 2018|language=German|accessdate=31 July 2018}} but it was still necessary to evacuate many people from several villages.{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=7001780|title=Flera byar evakuerade på grund av bränderna|date=19 July 2018|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|language=Swedish|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Brischetto |first1=Lucas }} In areas not under risk of fire but affected by smoke thousands of people were asked to stay indoors and close their windows.
In addition to the country's firefighters and civilian volunteers, Sweden's armed forces were involved, mostly providing manpower and equipment such as helicopters. Locally the air force also used aerial bombings by JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to make firebreaks and draw oxygen from the wildfires.{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/dalarna/mig-veterligen-har-det-aldrig-hant-forut|title=Flygvapnet släppte 270 kilo tung bomb över branden|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|date=25 July 2018|language=Swedish|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Skogbergs |first2=Ellen }}
By June, several fires were out of control and Sweden requested help from neighbouring countries and via the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism. Sweden received help from Denmark (firefighters and equipment), Estonia (firefighters and equipment), France (soldiers, firefighters, water bombing aircraft), Finland (firefighters), Germany (firefighters, helicopters), Italy (water bombing aircraft), Lithuania (helicopter), Norway (firefighters and equipment, water bombing helicopters), Poland (firefighters and equipment), and Portugal (water bombing aircraft).{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/30/the-swedish-town-on-the-frontline-of-the-arctic-wildfires|title=The Swedish town on the frontline of the Arctic wildfires|date=30 July 2018|work=The Guardian|accessdate=31 July 2018}}
In late July, Sweden received its first significant rain in months.{{cite web|url=https://www.b.dk/globalt/danske-brandfolk-bliver-i-sverige-mens-andre-tager-hjem|title=Danske brandfolk bliver i Sverige mens andre tager hjem|date=31 July 2018|publisher=Berlingske|language=Danish|accessdate=31 July 2018}} Combined with firefighting, this meant that fires generally were reduced, although new ones continued to appear. This, along with the high risk of fire elsewhere in Europe, meant that firefighters from most countries had returned to their own countries by 30 July, although the Danish remained on active duty in Sweden into August.{{cite web|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/skovbrande-har-haerget-sverige-i-tre-uger-nyt-hold-danske-frivillige-paa-vej|title=Skovbrande har hærget Sverige i tre uger: Nyt hold danske frivillige på vej|date=31 July 2018|publisher=DR News|language=Danish|accessdate=31 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.b.dk/globalt/europaeiske-brandfolk-er-ved-at-forlade-sverige-hjaelpen-har-givet-resultater|title=Europæiske brandfolk er ved at forlade Sverige: Hjælpen har givet resultater|date=31 July 2018|publisher=Berlingske|language=Danish|accessdate=31 July 2018}} Some water bombing aircraft returned to their own countries, but others remained in Sweden.{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/brandflyg-sverige-stannar-msb|title=Så länge stannar de utländska brandflygplanen i Sverige|date=27 July 2018|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|accessdate=31 July 2018 |last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Backlund |first2=Antonia }}
2019
In March, several wildfires occurred in the south of Sweden. According to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, the risk of fire was unusually high for the time of year.{{cite news |last1=Söderlund |first1=Andreas |title=Flera skogsbränder i Sverige: "Det är öppna lågor" |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/flera-skogsbrander-i-sverige-det-ar-oppna-lagor |accessdate=24 April 2019 |date=22 April 2019 |language=sv}}{{cite news |title=MSB om skogsbränderna: "Ser riktigt illa ut" |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/kJv126/msb-om-skogsbranderna-ser-riktigt-illa-ut |accessdate=24 April 2019 |work=Aftonbladet |language=sv}}{{cite news |title=Kraftig skogsbrand vattenbombas i Gislaved |url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/misstankt-anlagda-brander-i-gislaved/ |access-date=24 April 2019 |work=Dagens Nyheter |date=22 April 2019 |language=sv}}{{cite news |last1=Radio |first1=Sveriges |title=MSB: Stor risk för skogsbränder i hela landet - P4 Kalmar |url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=86&artikel=7203600 |accessdate=24 April 2019 |work=sverigesradio.se |language=sv}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/skogsbranderna-laget-just-nu/ The wildfires - current situation] Dagens Nyheter (Swedish)
{{2018 wildfires}}