In northern countries, bonfires are a midsummer tradition that symbolizes celebration and unity. However, in recent years, these traditions have been disrupted by the impact of climate change as prolonged dry springs and summers have made lighting fires dangerous or outright impossible. This year, after an unusually rainy June, the tradition was revived, but increasing challenges underscore the urgent need for wildfire preparedness in Finland and across the Nordic region.
The shifting patterns of water circulation caused by climate change are becoming more evident. March 2025 was recorded as the hottest March in history, with human-driven climate change advancing more rapidly than ever before. Recognizing the urgency, Finland has embarked on a critical mission to strengthen resilience against wildfires through cross-border network collaboration.
To enhance preparedness, Finland is fostering partnerships among diverse organizations, urging outdoor groups, indigenous organizations, rescue services, and tech companies to collaborate. Current discussions involve entities such as the Finnish National Rescue Association (SPEK), Metsähallitus, the Outdoor Association of Finland (Suomen Latu), the Scouts, 4H Finland, The Martha Association, and the Finnish Sailing and Boating Association.
The aim is to unite organizations to assess their current resiliency measures and rethink approaches amid a changing climate. Key questions for these groups include: “Are we currently using advanced geospatial tools or apps to predict wildfire risks?” and “How can we adjust our practices for a warming climate?” The shared goal is to learn, adapt, and build common frameworks that can translate into effective actions.
Cooperating with Communities and Authorities
Increased cooperation with rescue authorities and local populations is vital for this mission. Strengthening methods for sharing data and information ensures faster response times to fire threats. Finland is now working to develop a unified data sharing system tailored for collective use, accelerating communication and decision-making processes among various partners.
Developing Sharea Arctic Variables
The foundation of this initiative has been laid through the development of “shared Arctic variables” (2022–2024), which utilize both satellite data and indigenous knowledge to create a shared language for assessing fire risks. These variables aim to establish a common understanding between actors involved in wildfire prevention, not only in Finland but across Sweden and Norway as well.
Next Steps and Practical Implementation
By spring and summer 2025, the collaboration will move into more active phases. A new “Water in Your Shoes” app designed to gather and refine terrain moisture information will be pilot-tested by students from the Muonio Wilderness Guide School and the Kuopio Rescue Institute. The app addresses gaps in the accuracy of current spatial and satellite data, enabling better anticipation of dry conditions that could lead to wildfires. Feedback on the app’s performance will be discussed during a webinar later in the fall of 2025.
The Arctic wildfire preparedness network, spearheaded by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, is bringing together national and international partners, including Metsähallitus, the Sámi Education Institute, and forestry and nature services. The initiative is supported by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
A Cross-Border Approach
Wildfires know no borders, and so neither can the solutions. Finland invites its Nordic neighbors Sweden and Norway to join the effort, recognizing that collaboration is essential in addressing a shared and worsening challenge.
As climate impacts continue to disrupt lives and traditions, the wildfire preparedness network offers a proactive step towards safeguarding communities, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. For now, the bonfires light the summer night skies once more, but the combined efforts of Finland and its partners aim to ensure that future generations can continue the tradition safely and sustainably.
Welcome to the Network
If you are interested in working to prevent Arctic wildfires, please contact us. We invite you to the workshops and tell you and your organization more at saara.lilja@emergenssi.fi and regarding the app at vettakengassa@fmi.fi.
Read more
Kröger, A. 2023. Wildfire theme -Shared Arctic Variables -March 2023 Finnish SAV workshop Blog 21.3.2023. https://arcticgeoss.org/2023/03/21/wildfire-theme-shared-arctic-variables-march-2023-finnish-sav-workhop/
Lilja, S. 2023. Building a wildfire preparedness network combines different information and experiences, blog 20.6.2023 (In Finnish) https://emergenssi.fi/blog-kesakuu_23.
