The extreme heat and summer wave of recent days has significantly increased the risk of fire.

SMHI, MSB and the rescue service are now warning of the fire risk.

- It is above all the superficial layers that are dry and flammable, says Christer Björkman.

If there is an ignition, the fire can spread quickly, especially with the help of the wind.

Forest fires are being investigated with aircraft

Under these conditions, the rescue service increases its preparedness.

- We make sure that all our equipment is in top trim, says Björkman.

In addition, firefighting is up in the air to detect forest fires in sparsely populated areas.

MSB also warns and increases preparedness

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency MSB also urges the public to be careful in forests and land.

Eight helicopters, of which two in Luleå and two in Östersund, are on standby to be able to take off within 90 minutes and put out fires.

At Nyköping Airport, four aircraft are also ready to take off within three hours.

- The helicopters are on standby in places in the country where the risk of forest fires is greatest, says Roger Gustafsson, project manager at MSB's operational department.

No fire ban yet

Although the risk of fires has increased, no fire ban has yet been issued in Västerbotten.

However, a fire ban may become relevant later in the summer.