ArcResc Wildfire

About the project

Climate change is increasing the risk of wildfires in the Arctic. Temperatures are rising, while snowy seasons are becoming shorter and dry periods longer. A longer growing season can also create more vegetation that can become fuel for wildfires.

This creates new challenges for communities and rescue services. Arctic forests are important for many plants and animals. They also store large amounts of carbon and support the livelihoods of many people in the region, including Indigenous communities.

ArcResc Wildfire aims to strengthen preparedness for a changing climate in the Interreg Aurora programme area. Rescue services and other organisations in Finland, Sweden and Norway work together. By sharing knowledge, experience and methods, they aim to improve their ability to manage wildfires.

What we are doing

Participants share knowledge, experience and methods for managing wildfires. Lectures are combined with practical training and live fire exercises. This gives personnel the opportunity to try different methods for managing and carrying out wildfire response operations. The project will also develop a shared digital tool for managing emergency response operations. The tool will display environmental data from national and European sources. It will provide better information about wildfires and support rescue services when planning their response.

The work aims to give the organisations involved a shared understanding and better information for decision-making. It will also help them use resources more efficiently and protect critical infrastructure. The project will also use nature-based methods to prevent wildfires.

The project also builds on previous research, experience, risk assessments and national strategies. This knowledge will be turned into practical and shared methods that can be used during emergency response operations.

Timeline and current status

ArcResc Wildfire started on 1 September 2026 and will run until 30 June 2029.

Funding, collaboration and responsibilities

Kajaanin Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy is the project's Lead Partner in the EU. Tromsø brann og redning KF is the Lead Partner in Norway.

The project partners are:

• Suomen Palopäällystöliitto – Finlands Brandbefälsförbund ry
• Pohjois-Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue
• Kainuun hyvinvointialue
• Lapin hyvinvointialue
• Bodens kommun
• Kiruna kommun
• Luleå kommun.

The total project budget is EUR 1,103,719. Interreg Aurora provides EUR 637,919 in EU funding. Norwegian IR funding amounts to EUR 61,152.