To enjoy the forests, it is especially important to follow a few simple fire safety and behavior rules during the warm season
- Drive well-maintained vehicles.
- Perform forest management tasks responsibly.
- Do not discard unextinguished matches, cigarette butts or leave glass shards.
- Light campfires only in designated areas, constantly supervise the fire and extinguish it completely with soil or water until it stops smouldering before leaving the forest.
What to do if you see fire?
You can extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to larger areas using the simplest methods:
- Smothering the flames with tree branches
- Stomping it out with your feet
- Covering it with soil
- Pouring water on it
ATTENTION: If you see that you cannot control the fire, immediately call the emergency number 112 or +370 687 20441 and move away in the direction from which the wind is blowing – do not run downwind!
Didžiausi 2024 metų miško gaisrai:
| Eil. Nr | Regional Unit | Forestry area | Data | Gaisravietės plotas, ha | Miško nuosavybė |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nemenčinės | Meškerinės | 2024-05-28 | 7.21 | Valstybinė |
| 2. | Nemenčinės | Taurijos | 2024-09-08 | 5.75 | Valstybinė |
| 3. | Druskininkų | Leipalingio | 2024-09-09 | 3.78 | Valstybinė/ Privati |
| 4. | Nemenčinės | Meškerinės | 2024-05-28 | 3.41 | Valstybinė |
Valstybinių miškų urėdijos regioninių padalinių pateiktais preliminariais duomenimis, šiais metais, iki rugsėjo 16 d., Lietuvos miškuose užregistruoti 89 miško gaisrai 48,82 ha plote (2023 metais tuo pačiu laikotarpiu šalyje buvo užregistruota 160 miško gaisrų 58,77 ha plote). Regioninių padalinių priešgaisrinės komandos bei valstybinių miškų apsaugos pareigūnai, pagal gautus pranešimus apie kilusius miško gaisrus, buvo išvykę į gaisravietes daugiau nei 238 kartus.
Project co-financed by the European Union Structural Funds Cohesion Fund No. 05.1.1-AVA-V-004-01-0008 “Acquisition of Fire Trucks and Firefighting Equipment”
Project No. 05.1.1-APVA-V-004-01-0008 “Acquisition of Fire Trucks and Firefighting Equipment” is funded by the 2014-2020 European Union Funds Investment Action Programme under Priority 5 “Environment, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Adaptation to Climate Change” under the measure “Strengthening Environmental Monitoring and Control.” The total eligible expenditure for the project amounts to EUR 2,076,245.58. The project is scheduled for completion on 31 December 2023.
Each year, forests suffer from biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors. Fires cause significant damage to forests. From 2010 to 2019, the number of forest fires in Lithuania ranged from 80 to 280 per year (an average of about 180 fires per year), with the affected forest area averaging about 98 hectares.
One of the problems faced by institutions overseeing the fire protection system in Lithuania is outdated equipment, which hinders efficient and rapid detection and extinguishing of fires, leading to larger burned areas. Fires destroy valuable stands, herbaceous plants, small fauna and flora, alter soil structure, pollute the air, and destroy aesthetic elements. Therefore, quick and efficient response upon receiving a fire report is crucial.
Therefore, a project was initiated to invest in the acquisition of fire trucks and firefighting equipment to ensure an effective forest fire protection system in Lithuania.
Upon completion of the project, it will be possible to quickly stop the spread of fires, respond more rapidly to fires, reduce the burned forest area, and decrease environmental pollution due to CO2 emissions from fires.
During the project implementation, the following firefighting equipment and fire trucks were acquired:
- 2020: Acquisition of 23 light off-road vehicles, equipped with firefighting modules that include high-pressure pumps capable of carrying 0.3 m³ of water. These vehicles are intended for the rapid detection of forest fire hotspots and initial firefighting efforts. To minimize the spread and quickly extinguish forest fires, personnel dispatched to search for potential fires should carry the most effective firefighting equipment without compromising their mobility. As shown by the experience of SFE and neighboring countries’ foresters, the most effective means of promptly responding to and suppressing forest fires before they spread is an off-road vehicle equipped with a firefighting module capable of carrying 0.3-0.5 m³ of water.
- 2021: Acquisition of 7 large fire trucks, capable of carrying at least 2 m³ of water, intended for extinguishing spreading forest fires. These vehicles have increased off-road capabilities to reach fire locations not via roads but often through difficult terrains such as sand and marshy areas. The technical features of the fire trucks ensure reliable access to the fire site, adequate water delivery, and rational water use to prevent expanding forest fires from becoming uncontrollable natural disasters.
- 2023: Acquisition of a highly off-road capable light vehicle, which will be used as a forest fire control headquarters vehicle. This vehicle is intended for organizing and commanding firefighting efforts for widespread and spreading forest fires, investigating the causes and circumstances of forest fires, and controlling the execution of forest fire protection tasks.
- 2023: Acquisition of 27 six-wheeled mini tractors, equipped with firefighting modules that include high-pressure pumps capable of carrying 0.2 m³ of water. Due to their exceptional off-road capability, high maneuverability, and small size and weight, these six-wheeled mini tractors provide the ability to quickly locate and contain forest fires before they spread, even in areas inaccessible to other fire trucks.
By implementing this project, the preservation of Lithuanian forests and their resources will be enhanced, and appropriate forest protection from fire spread will be ensured.