Volunteer firefighters from Gromadka:
At 2:17 p.m., we were dispatched to a grass fire by the Gromadka–Wierzbowa road.
Fortunately, no one was injured. The firefighters add:
We conducted the operation together with the Wierzbowa Volunteer Fire Department.
In Poland, 153,520 fires were recorded in 2019, including 55,912 grass fires in meadows and agricultural wasteland, accounting for approximately 36.4% of all fires in Poland. As reported by stoppozaromtraw.pl, the greatest number of grass fires was recorded in March and April—31,720 in total, accounting for 56.7% of all grass fires in 2019.
In 2019, there were 55,912 grass fires. More than 24,151 hectares of grassland burned.
Stoppozaromtraw.pl:
The transition from winter to spring is a period when the number of grass fires in meadows and agricultural wasteland rises significantly. This is caused by the burning of dry grass and plant residue. Areas of dried vegetation from the previous year are excellent combustible material, which, combined with human irresponsibility, results in a sharp increase in fires. People are responsible for most grass fires. Unfortunately, many people believe that burning dry grass naturally fertilizes the soil, causing young grass to grow faster and more abundantly and thereby bringing economic benefits.
How quickly does such a fire spread?
A fire can spread at more than 20 km/h (a fast run is nearly 19 km/h, while fast cycling is approximately 30 km/h). Wind also helps the fire spread. When wind speeds are high and its direction changes suddenly, fires very often get out of control and spread to nearby forests and buildings.
Importantly, during a forest fire, animals panic. Many lose their bearings and run straight into the flames!
Are people also among those affected?
National Headquarters of the State Fire Service:
People repeatedly lose everything they own in such fires. They also pose a direct threat to the health and lives of people and animals.
What are the economic consequences of grass fires?
Fires in meadows and forests cause enormous material losses. The accumulated assets of many generations often go up in smoke. Estimated losses from grass fires occurring in 2019 amounted to PLN 40,974,800. The average grass-fire extinguishing operation lasts 54 minutes.
In 2018, firefighters were dispatched to grass and agricultural-wasteland fires on average every nine minutes.
Is burning grass legal?
Firefighters:
The ban on burning grass is set out in the following legal acts:
- The Act of 16 April 2004 on Nature Conservation (Journal of Laws 2018, item 142):
- Article 131, point 12: “It is prohibited to burn meadows, pastures, wasteland, ditches, roadside strips, railway tracks, reed beds and rushes.”
- Article 131: “Anyone who burns meadows, pastures, wasteland, ditches, roadside strips, railway tracks, reed beds or rushes is subject to arrest or a fine.”
- The Act of 28 September 1991 on Forests (Journal of Laws 2017, item 788):
- Article 30, section 3, point 3: “In forests and forested areas, as well as within 100 meters of the forest boundary, activities and actions that may cause danger are prohibited, in particular: lighting fires outside places designated for this purpose by the forest owner or forest district manager, using an open flame, and burning the topsoil and plant residue.”
What are the penalties for burning grass?
- Article 82 of the Act of 20 May 1971, the Code of Petty Offenses (Journal of Laws 2018, item 618): arrest, reprimand or a fine, which under Article 24, section 1, may range from PLN 20 to PLN 5,000.
- Article 163, section 1, of the Act of 6 June 1997, the Criminal Code (Journal of Laws 1997, No. 88, item 553, as amended): “Anyone who causes an event that threatens the life or health of many people or property on a large scale, in the form of a fire, is subject to imprisonment for between one and 10 years.”
Losses Affect More Than Property
State Fire Service Headquarters:
In 2019, during rescue operations involving the extinguishing of grass fires, 183,412,171 liters of water were used, equivalent to the capacity of 49 Olympic swimming pools. Grass fires in wasteland, because of their nature and usually large size, involve a large number of firefighters and rescue resources. Every such intervention represents a significant financial expense.
The uniformed services emphasize:
Firefighters involved in extinguishing grass fires in meadows and wasteland may at the same time be needed elsewhere to save human life, health and property. It may happen that, because of people’s recklessness in burning grass, they will not arrive in time where they are urgently needed.