State managed forest fire surveillance flights to be reintroduced in Sweden
State managed forest fire surveillance flights to be reintroduced in Sweden
08 April 2005
published by Nordic Family Forestry
State managed forest fire surveillance flights will be reintroduced in southern Sweden this summer.
The reason is the concern that forest fires will be difficult to extinguish because of all branches, twigs and timber lying around in the forest after the storm, says Ms Leni Björklund, Minister of Defence.
The storm has caused an exceptional situation, mainly in respect of security. If fallen timber, branches and twigs catch fire and if forest fires break out, the situation will be extremely serious. Such fires are much more difficult to put out than ordinary forest fires. For that reason it is important to detect any fires at the earliest possible stage.
State managed forest fire surveillance flights were abolished two years ago, because this was not considered to be any matter for central government administration. After appeals from the provinces hit by storm flights will be temporarily reintroduced next summer.
The risk of forest fires is much more serious than normally with all combustible material lying around on the ground after the storm. It may provoke uncontrollable fires that are extremely difficult to get at.
There are also possibilities that Sweden may get help from EU countries. Within the scope of co-operation within EU we are entitled to ask for assistance, if our own resources turn out to be insufficient, says Leni Björklund. Source: http://www.nordicforestry.org/article.asp?Data_ID_Article=945&Data_ID_Channel=33
