Fighting wild fires in an era of climate change

From California to the Mediterranean, and now even in the far north of Europe, wildfires are increasingly making headlines. The growing vulnerability of regions once considered low-risk underscores the urgent need for action—and the development of innovative firefighting technologies. 

While wildfires are nothing new, experts warn that climate change has fundamentally altered their frequency, intensity, and the risks they pose to communities worldwide. The number of wildfires is predicted to increase by 50 per cent by the end of the century as a result of the climate crisis and changes in land use, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Norwegian environmental centre GRID-Arendal entitled Spreading like Wildfire.

Marko Hassinen, a specialist in forest fire research and an entrepreneur at Fire and Rescue Innovation Finland Ltd., states that fires are igniting more rapidly and spreading to areas that were previously somewhat protected. 

“Climate change doesn’t simply mean that it gets warmer, and we get more fires,” explains Hassinen. “It creates longer, hotter, and drier periods, which drastically increase the likelihood of ignition and make wildfires harder to control.” 

In countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece, summers already bring daily reports of devastating blazes. But northern nations, traditionally shielded by shorter warm seasons and lush greenery, are now also experiencing extended dry spells. This means the wildfire window is getting longer, and the fires more dangerous, even in places once considered low risk. 

“In the future, forest fires may ignite more quickly and spread into areas that were previously relatively safe,” Hassinen explains. 

Hose cartridge is a game-changer for firefighting.

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Source: Forest News / Finnish Forest Association

Image credit: Marko Hassinen