Despite a very dry spring and start to summer, the fire-risk period passed relatively calmly across the nearly 62,000 hectares managed by SIA Rīgas meži. During this season (1 May – 23 September), 83 fires were recorded over an area of less than 19 ha; most of them covered just a few dozen square metres.

Approximately half, or 44, of the fires were in the capital's forests – within the territory of the Rīga forestry district. These were mainly small fires, the origin of which was most likely careless human handling of fire, and possibly also arson. The largest fire in Rīga was on 27 May near the Bolderāja quarry, where forest floor vegetation burned in several spots across an area of 2.83 ha.

Several small fires also occurred in the Tīreļi and Gauja forestry districts, with 18 and 17 incidents respectively. It was in the Tīreļi forestry district that the largest Rīgas meži fire of the year was recorded, when the Medems bog burned over an area of more than 8 ha. Extinguishing the fire took five days. Personnel from the State Fire and Rescue Service and the State Forest Service took part in suppressing the flames, as did members of the National Guard and their helicopter.

“This year, the iron men from the Tīreļi forestry district deserve special mention; they worked courageously and persistently in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees. Without their prompt reaction and actions, containing the fire would not have been as successful, and the burnt area would likely have been much larger. A National Guard helicopter was also involved in the extinguishing work, dropping water from the air,” notes Edgars Leitāns, Head of the Forest Protection and Technical Division of the Rīgas meži Forestry Department.

In terms of fires, the safest area this year was the Katrīna forestry district near Limbaži. Only one fire was recorded there, covering 0.03 ha or 300 square metres. Meanwhile, in the Daugava forestry district, near Ogre and Salaspils, three fires were recorded, totalling 0.15 ha in area.

Compared to 2022, when weather conditions were much more fire-safe, the number of fires and the area burned in Rīgas meži territories were higher this year; last year's figures were less than 11 ha and 21 fires.

Prevention and mitigation of fire spread

To proactively prevent and mitigate the ignition and spread of fire, Rīgas meži restores approximately 600 km of mineralised firebreaks in its forests every year.

Employees from all five Rīgas meži forestry districts participated in and improved their knowledge and skills through firefighting training exercises.

To ensure monitoring, forest rangers carry out regular patrols, drones are used to observe forest stands, and the public is regularly urged to be careful with fire.