Midsummer without bonfires
Half of the country is on alert for the risk of forest fires. For this reason, open fires are prohibited.
Due to the high temperatures, the Finns will celebrate this year their Midsummer (Juhannus) holiday with half a country on alert for the risk of forest fires. For this reason, the Finnish Meteorology Institute (Ilmatieteen laitos) has issued a press release in which reminds that it is prohibited to burn bonfires when the forest fire alert is in force.
"It is forbidden to make an open fire when a forest fire warning is in force" points out Henri Nyman, Meteorologist on duty at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, on a press release which explains the high temperatures that the country will endure, especially in its central and southern parts, during this weekend.
Likewise, the department itself has recalled this prohibition through its Twitter account:
The Rescue Department of the city of Helsinki (Pelastuslaitos Helsinki) has also reminded on its website that open fires are prohibited in the Helsinki area during the weekend.
This department had to rectify via Twitter, since previously they had informed about an exception to the law, which would be applied to allow the celebration on the island of Seurasaari. There will be no such, and Seurasaari must also run its party without a bonfire.
The northernmost region of Finland is not under this forest fire alert. So there, in theory, bonfires can be made. But just in theory, because the Finnish Institute of Meteorology also forecasts thunderstorms and rains throughout the region.
The authorities recommend, to those who are going to move these days, a lot of care when driving, both on the road and in the water. Happy Midsummer!