Once you have made the emergency call and if you are able to find a basic fire extinguisher, try to start putting out the fire – this will help to contain the spread of the fire! Make sure to extinguish the fire in a safe manner.
- don’t remain downwind of the fire and do not leave your car downwind either;
- consider your route of retreat;
- keep as far as possible from a treetop fire;
- if you are aware that you are wearing clothes made out of a flammable material (e.g. nylon), keep away from the fire;
- use large branches gathered into a bunch to put out the fire;
- take into account that it is possible that wartime explosive devices that could explode will come out in the course of a forest fire.
If the fire is spreading in the treetops or has expanded to a hopeless extent, you can gather fire intelligence from a safe distance:
- find out where the fire is moving the fastest (usually an area that is downwind of the fire);
- try to estimate the size of the area on fire;
- warn the people in the vicinity of the fire;
- find suitable access roads for the rescue equipment and go meet the rescuers on the way.
Once the rescuers have arrived, give them a quick overview of the above.
If you live in the vicinity of the fire then
- keep your mobile phone at hand so that you could call for help if necessary and receive the possible risk alert message (EE-ALARM) quickly;
- follow the channels of the Estonian Public Broadcasting, switch on a radio;
- follow the instructions given to you by the rescuers or through other channels;
- remove flammable objects (garden furniture, tents, firewood etc.) from the yard or cover them well – if possible, soak the covered areas;
- close the windows, doors, ventilation and gas devices;
- monitor whether smoke has entered the rooms and, if necessary, seal the windows and doors with wet rags;
- in the event of a great fire risk, be ready to evacuate! Do not forget your domestic animals and pets.
During a high fire risk period in the forests:
- do not use open flame in the forest;
- do not smoke in the forest;
- do not leave glass containers in the forest;
- if it is forbidden to go in the forest, follow the prohibition;
- do not use pyrotechnics in the forest;
- if you notice smoke or flames, start putting them out if possible and call 112.
According to the national public risk picture, the worst case scenario is an extensive forest and landscape fire in areas bordering densely populated territories. The flammability of the forests is increased by the rise in air temperature and smaller precipitation volumes in spring and summer. Forest and landscape fires take place every year, a burn develops into a major fire (50-100 hectares) once or twice in ten years.
Last updated: 21.06.2023
