Forest fires: Swedish cities must be evacuated as soon as possible

At 0040 from evening to Thursday the inhabitants of Gällö, Jämtland County and the municipality of Bräcke in Jämtland received a message that the fire east of Gällö was such that the inhabitants evacuated their houses. The Swedish rescue service suspects that the Hanåsen fire started during a thunderstorm earlier that day.

– The evacuation must take place as soon as possible. The fire at Hanåsen will prevent the evacuation against Gällö, explains the instruction, which explains in detail who will leave the premises and where to go.

Shortly after, the message that the Kårböle fire in the municipality of Ljusdal, Gävleborg, was now such that everyone in the affected area had to be evacuated by 8 am Thursday morning. Between 70 and 90 people have already been evacuated to Kårböle.

44 fires

According to SOS Alarm, there are now 44 forest fires in Sweden, and some of the most important ones are in Härjedalen, Ljusdal and Älvdalen.

– The Hanåsen fire threatens to cut the road to the other fire and block a number of inhabitants. Therefore, we ordered the evacuation while the roads are still viable, "says Niklas von Essen, chief of staff of Jämtland Rescue Service, at TT

. fires. People are encouraged to listen to the radio for more information.

Challenging

The Municipality of Ljusdal has created emergency shelters for those who have had to leave their homes in Kårböle.

The main challenge of Thursday's rescue service is to save the towns of Kårböle and Enskogen from the flames. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) will arrive in Ljusdal during the day to participate in the efforts and common courage against forest fires.

Gävleborg County, Dalarna and Jämtland County are seriously affected, but are currently burning throughout Sweden. Italian firefighters who started bombing the largest fire zones will receive assistance from two French planes of the same type on Thursday. These can pick up and drop 6,000 liters of water in the sled.

– This is a serious situation and the risk of forest fires is extremely important throughout the country. Therefore, for the third time in the summer, we decide to ask the EU for help to the firefighters who can help the rescue if necessary, "said Jakob Wernerman, chief operating officer of the Swedish Agency Sweden, which has borrowed ten Norwegian helicopters together, and Trøndelag volunteer firefighters are assisting.From Denmark, 22 firefighters will arrive on Thursday morning.

(© NTB)