Wildfire Risk and Water Shortages

Summer in Sweden often brings an increased risk of wildfires and water shortages. Here you can find information on what to keep in mind and the advice you should follow.
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Always be careful when lighting a fire outdoors – even when using a camping stove, portable barbecue or designated fire pit. During dry weather, it is especially important to use extra caution with any kind of fire.

By following the advice on this page, you can help reduce the risk of starting a fire that could harm people or damage property.

Links in the text lead to information in Swedish or English.

About fire bans – when is it forbidden to light a fire?

During dry periods, local authorities or county councils may impose a total fire ban in an area. Even if there is no fire ban in place, the risk of fire may still be high. You must always check whether it is permitted to light a fire. If you light a fire despite it being forbidden, you may be fined.

Are you unsure of the rules?

If the information isn’t available on your local council’s website, contact the emergency services in your area.

Fire Ban and Strict Fire Ban – What's the Difference?

There are two levels of restrictions:

Fire ban

During a fire ban, you must not light fires in or near forests and natural areas.

However, you may:

  • barbecue on your own property using a barbecue or similar equipment
  • use permanent barbecue facilities that have been specially prepared and are located in certain public areas.

Strict fire ban

During a strict fire ban, using permanent public barbecue facilities is also prohibited.

You may only barbecue on your own property, and only if it can be done safely with no risk of the fire spreading.

Krisinformation.se provides a map showing where fire bans are currently in force. Lighting fires is prohibited in areas marked in red or orange.

Check the fire risk

  • Use the Brandrisk Ute (Fire Danger Outdoors) app if you plan to light a fire or barbeque outdoors in the forest or in the countryside. This will keep you informed of the current fire danger and any fire bans.
  • Check fire risk forecasts at SMHI (English).

If the fire spreads – call 112

If the fire spreads whilst you are lighting a fire, you must call 112 immediately. The sooner the emergency services are notified of the fire, the easier it will be for them to extinguish it.

Information by telephone: 113 13

During major incidents, it is important to follow instructions from the Police, the fire and rescue service, and other public authorities.

Avoid areas affected by fire

After a wildfire, it can be extremely dangerous to enter the affected area. Trees may fall without warning, and the ground can remain hot or smoulder long after the fire has been extinguished.

Important public announcement

If a fire poses a risk to people’s lives and health, the incident commander may issue an ‘important public announcement’. 

Warnings are communicated through:

  • national radio and television
  • other news media
  • Krisinformation.se

If you are in the affected area, you will also receive the warning as a text message on your mobile phone.

Drinking water and water shortages

When there is too little rain or snowfall, groundwater reserves are not replenished as they should be. This can lead to water shortages. When water is scarce, it is important to use drinking water carefully.

Save Water

  • Take shorter showers.
  • Turn off the tap when you are not using it, for example while soaping yourself or brushing your teeth.
  • Do not wash dishes under running water, and only run the dishwasher when it is full.
  • Do not water plants with drinking water. Instead, collect rainwater for watering.
  • Water plants in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.
  • Keep drinking water in the refrigerator so you do not have to run the tap to get cold water.

If drinking water is unavailable from the tap, your municipality or the local fire and rescue service may place water tanks at different locations in the affected area.

You may need your own containers to collect and transport the water.

Plan for 3–5 litres of water per person per day.

Watering bans

Find out if there is a watering ban where you are. You can check this with your local council. When a watering ban is in force, drinking water may only be used for cooking, drinking and personal hygiene.

When you must boil tap water

If there is reason to believe that tap water may contain bacteria, viruses or parasites that could make people ill, your municipality may issue a boil water advisory. This means the water must be boiled before it is used for drinking or cooking. Bring the water to a rolling boil before using it.

High temperatures can be harmful

High temperatures can be harmful – particularly for the elderly, the sick and young children.

Sweden's national weather service, SMHI, issues heat warnings on its website when temperatures are expected to become dangerously high.

The website 1177.se provides healthcare information in several languages. You can also call 1177 for advice about illnesses and symptoms.

This information is based on guidance from the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency, , the County Administrative Boards, SOS Alarm, Svenskt vatten, the fire and rescue services, SMHI, and Radio Sweden.