Current wildfires in France and Spain are prompting reflection on the large-scale forest fire that struck Västmanland, Sweden in 2014. That 2014 event proved to be a pivotal moment, triggering a significant overhaul of Sweden’s wildfire preparedness strategies. Authorities now demonstrate a heightened ability to anticipate potential risks before fires erupt. A key change involves the more rapid deployment of resources at the initial stages of a wildfire incident. Tobias Erdsjö emphasizes the improvements made since the 2014 disaster. The experience highlighted vulnerabilities and the need for proactive measures to combat increasing wildfire threats. Sweden’s revised approach aims to mitigate the devastating impacts seen in both 2014 and now in Southern Europe.