OT: Forest fires

Forest fires have been raging for several days in Karelia in Russia.
It's 200-250 km (125-155 miles) away, but we are still getting a lot of
smoke here in Helsinki. The Russian firefighters seem to be helpless.
Finland is waiting for them to ask us for help, but it's not in their
nature to ask for help and we can't go storming over the border without
being asked. So the forests keep burning. People are losing their homes

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

I have a good friend who grew up in St. Petersburg, so I told her about
this, because as I'm sure you know, that is not far from either Helsinki
or the Karelia region.

Anyway, I also told her what you said about the Finnish firefighters not
wanting to storm over the border, but instead were waiting to be asked
for help, and her response was "Finns have a historical dread of Russia."
I don't know a lot about the history, but apparently, the Soviets were
pretty aggressive toward Finland and came close to taking over, at one
point. Do you think that could be some of the reason for the caution?

Marina...

I don't really think so, that was a long time ago. Interesting remark. I
wouldn't say that Finns have a dread of Russia. When we were under
Russian rule 1809-1917, yes. In the early days of our independence, yes.
After WWII when the Allies forced us to give up Karelia, yes. But not
today.

Why we won't go in with firefighters without asking is it appears that
the Russians are not that interested in putting out the fires. Finland

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

How bizarre. I wonder why?

has offered its help but we can't force it on them if they don't want
it. I heard on the news that the Finnish consulate in St Petersburg has
issued a statement that the fires will be put out... but no specifics on
when.

Have the Finnish firefighters *offered* help? Are the Russians reluctant
to accept help that is offered, or is it just that they don't want to
ask? I'm finding the politics of this kind of interesting.

William Hamblen...

The Karelia region that is burning once was part of the Finnish
Republic. The Soviets bit it off in the war of 1939-40. I expect the
Russians don't want people to be reminded that the territory once was
part of Finland.

Adrian A...

I thought about that when I saw Marina's post. A brief history of Finland
here.
or
http://tinyurl.com/ep5i

and livelihood. I daren't even think of what may be happening to the
animals. Purrs going out to that area and all living things in it.

A lot of smoke around here this morning, and that smell of burning.
There's a hard wind from the East, so it will probably continue. No rain

rrb...

Purrs that Russia gets it under control or finally asks for assistance!
I guess Russia doesn't have anything like mutual assistance where other
states or even other countries at times can send fire fighters to assist.

Christina Websell...

Given that Karelia used to belong to Finland I can't see any way that the
Russians can ask for help without losing face. What could they say? "We
stole some land from you and now it is burning, can you come and help us?"
It's not going to happen, is it? They wouldn't dare.

rrb...

Now that I know the background of the area in question I think your
right Russia would probably not ask for help. Hopefully Russia can take
care of it on their own.

Karen...

Oh dear. :( Purrs for some sense and they ask for help. Purrs to all
the people. I guess it's been hot and dry there too?

Marina...

Yes, hot (well, hot for this part of the world) and very dry. They're
saying we haven't had such a dry summer in 100 years. Most things that
should be green are the colour of the grass in this picture:

Pat...

That's about how everything looks here, too. I'm setting a new record for
sleep loss. Glad I am not a Russian firefighter today. Has the Finn gov't
(or any other) called to offer help?

in sight either.

Christine K....

Yup, it smells up here in Vantaa too, some 20-25 km from where Marina
lives. Good thing it doesn't trigger the smoke alarm tho...

Micha...

Down in Spain and Portugal there are many devastating forest fires as
well. Spain is sending elite troops to help the local firefighters and
authorities. They have asked the European Community for help.

The most outrageous thing about this is, that it seems that most fires
have been started deliberately - by firemen, by private fire fighting
companies or speculators, who are interested in buying land for the
cheapest conditions.

I've heard that they have arrested some people and that prosecution
will consider starting forest fires a much heavier crime than they did
before.

Squarely Yours
Michael