Estonian rescuers head to Sardinia as leader warns of wind shifts

Estonian rescuers are heading to Sardinia to fight wildfires, with the most dangerous risk in mountainous terrain being a change in wind direction, rescue team leader Kaarel Langemets told ERR’s Vikerraadio.

Langemets, an expert in the Rescue Board’s rescue operations department, said the team would include rescuers who had taken part in previous missions as well as newcomers. Experience from a previous deployment to Spain had given the rescuers an idea of what to expect.

“Sardinia has many deciduous trees, but it is mountainous and hot, making it a major challenge for rescuers,” Langemets said.

The Estonians will work alongside local rescue units, with operations mainly taking place from early morning until sunset. Unlike in Estonia, where rescuers typically attack fires with hoses, southern European teams closely monitor how the fire is spreading and where it can be stopped. They also create firebreaks by removing vegetation from strips of ground, a method for which the Estonian rescuers have been trained.

Langemets said fires in Estonia can spread underground through peat, sometimes reaching several metres below the surface. In Sardinia, the main concern is mountainous terrain, where fire can quickly move along a slope. High temperatures, very low humidity and wind make the conditions particularly difficult.

“The most dangerous situation in mountainous areas is when the wind changes. You must always leave yourself an escape route to a safe area,” Langemets said, adding that continuous fire surveillance was the most important task.

He said fires were usually linked to human activity, such as a discarded cigarette or something catching fire near a vehicle’s exhaust. Spain also experiences thunderstorms without rainfall, which can ignite many fires at once.