Latvia emergency services report active period as forest fire season ends

The State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) in Latvia reported a busy 24-hour period involving 55 calls, including 10 fires, 30 rescue operations, and 15 missing persons reports. Notable incidents included a car accident in Staburags parish where a vehicle struck an elk and ended up in a ditch; one person required extraction by emergency services. Additionally, VUGD assisted in cleaning up pollution on the Baltic coast in Ventspils and located two missing persons in the Rudzātu parish forest using drones and quad bikes.

Separately, the forest fire-prone period officially concluded on September 30. According to the State Forest Service, 264 forest fires were recorded this year, affecting a total area of 203 hectares. Officials noted that favorable weather conditions kept the number of fires and the total burned area relatively low compared to other years, allowing for increased training and cooperation between the State Forest Service, the National Armed Forces, and other partners.