Smoke from wildfires in Russia drifts into Inari, Finland, prompting warnings

In recent days, the Lapland Rescue Service has received multiple reports of smoke odor in the municipality of Inari. According to the service, the smell of smoke is drifting from wildfires approximately 125 kilometers east of the Finnish border in Russia’s Murmansk region. A change in wind direction from the east has carried the smoke into Finland, particularly affecting the areas of Inari and Utsjoki, leading to a haze in the air.

Currently, there are no known wildfires within Inari municipality itself. However, the situation is being closely monitored in collaboration with other authorities, as stated by Mika Hyvärinen, the on-duty chief of the Lapland Rescue Service. The area is extremely dry, and conditions are expected to worsen in the coming week, which increases the risk of fire.

Due to this fire risk, the Lapland Rescue Service urges the public to avoid open flames and to exercise special caution when in nature. The rescue service will continue to closely monitor the situation and will provide further information to residents as necessary.

While there is no cause for concern regarding the smoke odor reports, any new, clear sightings of smoke or suspected fires should be reported immediately to the emergency number 112. Aerial fire surveillance is being conducted daily in the region to detect wildfires from the air. Inari has experienced several wildfires in recent weeks, with at least six fires noted on different islands in Lake Inari since mid-July.