In spring, the Orthodox Church celebrates some of the most important Christian holidays – Bright Resurrection of Christ (Easter) and Radunitsa – a day for special remembrance of the departed. Traditionally, solemn religious services are held in churches on these days.
In spring, the Orthodox Church celebrates some of the most important Christian holidays – Bright Resurrection of Christ (Easter) and Radunitsa – a day for special remembrance of the departed. Traditionally, solemn religious services are held in churches on these days. Given that a large number of people gather here and open flames are used during services, these events require particularly careful behaviour and attentiveness. In this regard, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reminds you of the basic fire safety rules during church services.
Before the service begins, familiarize yourself with the layout of the prayer hall and the church building to know the evacuation routes. Candles should be kept away from flammable materials; this rule must also be observed at home: after lighting a church candle, place it in a non-combustible holder at a significant distance from flammable objects. Do not leave lit candles unattended and remember that they must be kept out of reach of children.
In the church, exercise caution when lighting candles from candle holders: roll up your sleeves, tie your headscarves securely, and tuck your hair away. Keep a close eye on children, and do not allow them to place burning candles near your clothing. Hold a piece of paper or a handkerchief under the candle so that hot wax does not get on your skin, and you do not instinctively jerk your hand and drop the burning candle on your clothes. Do not light flammable objects instead of candles, such as celluloid toys, matches, and lighters. Also, try to maintain a safe distance from other parishioners holding lit candles.
In case of clothing catching fire, quickly take it off, cover it with a dense material; if the fire is severe, extinguish it with a fire extinguisher. If the fire alarm is activated and you are notified of a fire, do not panic; leave the premises without causing a crush. In case of a fire, call 101 or 112 immediately.
Furthermore, many people visit the graves of relatives and loved ones in cemeteries during the spring church holidays. Certain safety rules must also be observed here. When visiting cemeteries, do not throw burning matches or cigarette butts on the ground, do not leave glass bottles or shards of glass in sunlit areas, and do not burn dry grass near bushes, trees, and wooden structures. When tidying up the cemetery grounds, do not engage in uncontrolled burning of rubbish or lighting fires; to prevent the spread of fire, clear the area of rubbish and dry grass.
If you discover a fire starting, such as a small grass fire, try to extinguish it yourself. Sometimes it is enough to simply stomp out the flames, but you must wait and ensure that the grass is not smouldering, otherwise the fire may re-ignite. Burning dry grass can also be extinguished using bundles of twigs (like a broom) or young deciduous trees, soil, or sand. If you cannot extinguish the fire on your own, call the emergency services (telephone 101, 112) and report the discovered fire source and its location.
Do not forget that in addition to the rescuers' calls not to burn dry vegetation, there are serious penalties for such actions. According to Article 15.57 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus, illegal burning of dry vegetation, grass at the root, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in fields, or failure to take measures to extinguish fires on land plots, entails a fine of 10 to 40 base units. In addition, lighting fires in prohibited areas entails a warning or a fine of up to 12 base units.
Be attentive and careful! Be vigilant, do not ignore violations that could lead to tragedy! May the spring church holidays be bright and joyful for you! Take care of yourself and your loved ones!