fire

Five Lessons Sweden Can Learn from Ukraine for Future Fire Resilience

Page reviewed:  29/10/2025

When the war in Ukraine made vast forested areas inaccessible to firefighting, it became clear how vulnerable we are when flames spread beyond control.

Maksym Matsala, researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), studies how armed conflict changes forest fire risks – and what Sweden can learn from it.

Jenny Sander, biologist and fire ecologist at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), has spent over 20 years working on both prescribed burning and strategies to strengthen Sweden’s fire preparedness.

Together, they identify five key lessons for building a more resilient Sweden.

1. Mapping Fuels Is the Foundation of Preparedness

Sweden has world-class forest and landscape digital data – but still needs a shared, real-time picture of how fires behave and spread.

“With LiDAR data and satellites, we can simulate how fire moves across different landscapes. That tells us where it becomes most dangerous and helps prioritize treatments such as thinnings or fire breaks.” — Maksym Matsala

A shared map would give rescue services and authorities a clearer tool to plan preventive measures and make faster decisions on where firefighting efforts are most needed.

2. Build the Full Toolbox 

Reactive response is important, but prevention often determines whether helicopters are needed in the first place.
Effective preparedness combines prescribed burning, selective thinning, and mixed tree species to reduce fuel loads and break fire spread.

“It’s easier to fund what’s visible – but the measures you don’t see can matter the most when it starts to burn.” — Jenny Sander

3. Maintenance Matters as Much as Action

In Ukraine, firebreaks over 100 meters wide were often created – but without maintenance, they quickly became overgrown. The warming climate may contribute to this vegetation growth over the scales, including Sweden.
Preventive work must be treated as an ongoing program, not a one-time project. A firebreak, thinning, or prescribed burn loses its effect without regular upkeep.

4. Strengthen Local Capacity Before the Roads Close

In several major Swedish fires, local volunteers played a decisive role. 
MSB encourages local and regional actors to strengthen firefighting capacity and cooperation — crucial for areas like Gotland or inland Norrland, where additional help can take time to arrive.

“When more people can act quickly at the local level, fires can be stopped before they grow large.” — Jenny Sander

Cooperation between rescue services, forestry, and volunteer organizations is also vital. Where such partnerships existed in 2018, fires were contained more efficiently.

5. Make Risk-Reducing Choices Rewarding

Private forest ownership is a strength – but incentives are needed to make preventive work a natural part of forest management.
Certification systems, advisory services, and financial support can encourage owners to plan fire-preventive measures that also benefit biodiversity.

“When people feel responsible for their forest, they’re also willing to protect it.” — Maksym Matsala

Summary

Ukraine’s experience shows how quickly a landscape can change when resources fall short.

Sweden’s challenge is to act before the next crisis forces change.

Five ways forward:

  1. Build a national fuel and fire behavior map
  2. Develop the full toolbox – including preventive methods
  3. Plan for long-term maintenance
  4. Strengthen local and regional capacity
  5. Create incentives for forest owners to prevent fire

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