Authorities in East Iceland have issued a warning over the heightened risk of wildfires due to prolonged dry weather and little rainfall in recent weeks.
As reported by Vísir, the Civil Protection Committee in the region is urging both residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, particularly in areas with dense vegetation and summer cottages,
“Vegetation is dry in many locations,” the committee stated in their report, adding that outdoor barbecues (especially disposable ones) and discarded cigarette embers could easily ignite fires under the current conditions.
The public is reminded to be especially vigilant when lighting any kind of fire outdoors, and to ensure that any potential sources of ignition are properly extinguished. “Even a small spark in the wrong place can have serious consequences,” the committee warned.
Authorities also refer to guidance provided by the Housing and Civil Engineering Institute, which outlines key preventative measures and emergency responses in the event of a wildfire. The advice is available on the institute’s official website.
While wildfires are not incredibly common in Iceland, but they do happen during particularly dry spells in summer.
