A string of fires broke out across the Pirkanmaa region of south-central Finland on Saturday after a spell of arid, gradually warming weather.

The highest temperature so far this year in Finland was recorded on Friday afternoon, when the mercury climbed to 19.1 degrees Celsius at Helsinki Airport around 3pm.

As of Sunday, open fires are prohibited in 10 regions, from Åland and Southwest Finland to South Karelia in the east.

For Ostrobothnia on the west coast, the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) has unusually issued warnings for both grassfires and for poor driving conditions on Sunday night – due to possible snow or sleet.

Meanwhile there is a flood warning in Central and Northern Ostrobothnia. Next week, rivers could rise to flood levels due to rain and snowmelt.

4 simultaneous fires near Tampere

Firefighters in Pirkanmaa, which includes Tampere, were kept busy on Sunday as they received four alarms about wildfires in different parts of the region within half an hour. Blazes broke out in Urjala, Valkeakoski, Akaa and Sastamala. No injuries were reported.

The first alarm was in Urjala shortly after noon. It turned out to be a yard fire that spread from a campfire started by children.

About half a hectare of stubble field burned in Valkeakoski, started by a discarded cigarette.

Yard debris being burned in a barrel in Akaa sparked a fire that spread into the surrounding terrain. Fortunately, the wind was blowing away from nearby buildings. There was a similar situation in Sastamala, where someone was burning branches in the yard of a summer home when the fire spread, causing damage to the immediate area but not nearby buildings.

Snow possible on Sunday

Further south, a brushfire also broke out in Hämeenlinna in Kanta-Häme on Saturday. The fire burned several hectares of fields before the fire department was able to contain it.

The forecast calls for more warm, dry weather in most of the country through Sunday afternoon, but there is a chance of snow flurries in some northern areas this weekend. Rain or sleet also possible on Sunday in central Finland, with snow, sleet or rain likely across many southern and central areas by Monday.

Meanwhile the FMI forecasts subzero temperatures overnight in many areas, dropping to -12 degrees Celsius in parts of Finnish Lapland.