Spring has arrived unexpectedly early this year. The warm, dry weather has prompted people to start tidying up their personal plots. However, it is not only gardeners and owners of private land who burn rubbish; unfortunately, this practice is also used in roadside areas – acrid wisps of white smoke trail along fields, meadows, and road verges.
Although burning dry vegetation is prohibited by law in Belarus (in accordance with Article 15.57 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus, liability is provided for burning dry vegetation, grass in its root, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in fields, or for failure to take measures to extinguish fires – 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 does not disappear.
Practically every year, spring fires lead to unfortunate incidents – fires in residential buildings, outbuildings, injuries, and fatalities. In 2014, 114 cases of dry vegetation burning were registered in the district, requiring the intervention of Lepel District Emergency Situations Unit units. In 2 cases, the burning of dry vegetation and lighting of fires resulted in fires (on March 14, a residential house in the village of Rachitsy burned down due to an unattended bonfire; on April 2, a residential house with a shed burned down in the village of Antonovka due to the burning of dry vegetation).
Spring fires also cause serious damage to the environment annually. As a result of such actions, the natural ecological balance is disrupted; moreover, fires can lead to large-scale fires in forests and peatlands. Fire destroys animals and reptiles, annihilates bird nests and nesting sites, and impoverishes the species composition of meadow vegetation. In areas affected by fires, the former diversity of grasses will not return, and the cleared territory will be overgrown with weeds.
To prevent the ignition of dry vegetation:
– constantly clear your personal 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;
– do not leave unextinguished campfires or glass bottles in recreation areas (in the sun, they act as magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and igniting grass, moss, etc.);
If you discover a dry vegetation fire and 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 fire – this is the simplest and most effective method of extinguishing. If you cannot extinguish the fire or the flames have spread over a significant area, immediately report the incident to the Ministry of Emergency Situations duty service by calling "101".
Following amendments to the fire safety regulations, controlled campfires are permitted for burning rubbish and waste in designated areas. These areas must be bordered by a strip of soil cleared down to the mineral layer, with a width of at least 0.25 m. Burning waste is permissible in light winds and at the following distances: 15 m from buildings and structures, 20 m from forest areas, and 30 m from hay or straw storage sites. The regulations further specify that on household plots, food preparation in special devices is permitted at a minimum distance of 4 m from buildings and structures.