Forest fire and drought

What causes a forest fire? Which forests are most likely to burn? How do the trees and plants cope with the fire? SLU investigates these questions.

Policy brief - Forest fire

Our Swedish forests are expected to become more vulnerable to fires as a result of climate change. This means that our preparedness for forest fires needs to be developed.

Prescribed burn. Photo.

Summer – a high-risk period for fires

Prolonged heat, very limited rainfall, and frequent lightning are all factors that increase the risk of forest fires. The summer of 2018 is a good example, when 7,000 fires destroyed well over 22,000 hectares (ha) of Swedish forests.