Last year, during the spring-summer fire hazard period of 2015, an extremely unfavorable fire situation developed in the Lepel district. Units of the Lepel District Department for Emergency Situations responded to over 60 incidents involving dry grass fires and other fire hazardous waste. Warm, dry weather prompted the public to begin tidying up their household plots. However, it is not only summer residents and owners of private land plots who burn rubbish; unfortunately, this practice is also used in roadside areas, with acrid wisps of white smoke stretching along fields, meadows, and road verges.
Last year, during the spring-summer fire hazard period of 2015, an extremely unfavorable fire situation developed in the Lepel district. Units of the Lepel District Department for Emergency Situations responded to over 60 incidents involving dry grass fires and other fire hazardous waste. Warm, dry weather prompted the public to begin tidying up their household plots. However, it is not only summer residents and owners of private land plots who burn rubbish; unfortunately, this practice is also used in roadside areas, with acrid wisps of white smoke stretching along fields, meadows, and road verges.
Although the burning of dry vegetation is prohibited by law in Belarus (in accordance with Article 15.57 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offences, liability is provided for burning dry vegetation, stubble, and post-harvest residues in fields, or for failure to take measures to extinguish fires, with a fine ranging from 10 to 40 base units, and Article 15.58 for lighting fires in prohibited areas provides for a warning or a fine of up to 12 base units), the desire of our citizens to get rid of rubbish and dry grass with a lit match persists.
Practically every year, spring fires lead to accidents, including fires in residential buildings, outbuildings, and injuries or fatalities. In 2015, in the Lepel district, fires caused by burning dry vegetation resulted in the destruction of 4 garden houses and 6 outbuildings, as well as the ignition of 5 unoccupied buildings.
Thus, on March 18, due to the burning of dry vegetation, a fire occurred in a residential house and an outbuilding in the village of Yurkovshchina. As a result of the incident, the outbuilding was completely destroyed by fire, and the house walls were severely damaged. Two days later, fire units rushed to the village of Ozertsy, where, under similar circumstances, two summer houses and an outbuilding caught fire. And this is only a small fraction of the examples where seemingly harmless grass fires lead to significant material damage, and sometimes to loss of life.
Spring grass fires cause serious damage to the environment annually. As a result of such actions, the natural environmental balance is disrupted; moreover, fires can lead to large-scale fires in forests and peatlands. Fire destroys animals and reptiles, destroys bird nests and nesting sites, and impoverishes the species composition of meadow vegetation. In places where fires have occurred, the former variety of grasses will no longer be present; weeds will take over the cleared territory.
However, it is not only grass that should not be burned during spring cleaning. It is forbidden to burn plastic products (they release dioxins), as well as painted pieces of wood (most paints contain lead), rubber products, and old furniture. It should be remembered that when these materials burn, they release substances hazardous to health.
For those who enjoy outdoor recreation, it is worth reminding:
do not leave unextinguished campfires, matches, cigarette butts, or glass bottles in recreation areas (in the sun, they act like magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and igniting grass, moss, etc.);
do not ignore burning grass; if you cannot extinguish the fire yourself, report fires to the duty service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by calling "101" or "112".
Following amendments to the fire safety regulations, controlled bonfires for burning rubbish and waste are permitted on designated sites. These sites must be bordered by a strip of soil cleared of the mineral layer, with a width of at least 0.25 m. Burning waste is allowed during light winds and while observing the following distances: 10 m from buildings and structures, 20 m from forest areas, and 30 m from hay or straw storage sites. Additionally, the regulations specify that on household plots, cooking is permitted in special devices at a minimum distance of 4 m from buildings and structures.
Under no circumstances should flammable liquids be used when burning rubbish, nor should unextinguished bonfires, matches, cigarette butts, or other refuse be left behind.
To prevent the ignition of dry vegetation:
– constantly clear household plots of dry grass, leaves, and rubbish;
– do not light fires near garden structures and private residential properties;
- do not throw unextinguished cigarettes and matches into dry grass.
In case of discovering the ignition of dry vegetation:
if the area of ignition is small, try to extinguish the fire yourself. When extinguishing, use a bundle of twigs (like a broom). Beat the fire from the edge of the blaze – this is the simplest and most effective method of extinguishing. If you were unable to eliminate the source of the fire, or if the flames have spread over a significant area, immediately report the incident to the duty service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by calling "101" or "112".