The incident took place on April 30.
At 12:46 firefighters from Warta Bolesławiecka were dispatched to a dry-grass fire in the locality.
The firefighters said: “Approximately 3 ares were burned. The danger was eliminated; fortunately, no one was hurt.”
As reported on gov.pl, in 2023 firefighters in Poland responded 21,206 times to grass and agricultural waste fires. In Lower Silesia alone, there were more than 2,000 interventions.
The government website adds:
Unfortunately, in 2023, grass and waste fires resulted in:
- Number of fatalities: 3
- Number of injured people: 36
- Water used: 58,629 m3 (58,629,431 l)
- Area: 5,774 ha (57.7 km2)
- Total fire losses: PLN 68,992,900
- Average operation duration: 56 min and 36 sec
- A response to a grass fire every 10 minutes on average.
The State Fire Service’s “Stop Grass Fires” public-awareness campaign began on March 1. Gov.pl: – For many years now, the turn of winter and spring, as well as early spring, have been periods in which the number of meadow and waste fires clearly increases. Many people burn grass and agricultural waste, explaining their actions as a desire to fertilize the soil. For generations, many people have believed that burning grass will make it regrow faster and more abundantly, thereby bringing economic benefits. However, this is entirely mistaken thinking. Reality shows that burning grass leads to irreversible, adverse changes in the natural environment—the soil becomes infertile, the highly beneficial natural decomposition of plant residues is halted, as is the assimilation of nitrogen from the air. A range of chemical compounds that are poisonous to both people and animals is released into the atmosphere. Burning grass is also the cause of many fires, which unfortunately often lead to fatal accidents as well. Every year, several people die in such incidents.
It also adds:
Areas of last year’s dried vegetation, which due to the vegetation periods occurring at this time provide excellent fuel, combined with high human activity in this sector, result in a sharp increase in fires. People are responsible for more than 94% of their causes.
Wind also helps spread fire. People who, against all logic, decide to burn grass are convinced that they have the situation fully under control and will react in time if necessary. Unfortunately, they are mistaken, and sometimes this ends in tragedy. In the event of a sudden change in its direction, fires very often get out of control and spread to nearby forests and buildings. In such fires, people often lose everything they own. There is also a direct threat to people’s health and lives.
And warns:
Those who nevertheless want to take the risk must also face the consequences:
- That such conduct is prohibited is stated, among other things, in the Act of September 1, 2022—an amendment to the Nature Conservation Act, which added Article 130a, stating that anyone who removes vegetation by burning on agricultural land, railway areas, roadside strips, reed beds or marshes is subject to arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine of up to PLN 30,000.
(…)
paragraph 1. Anyone who removes vegetation by burning on agricultural land, railway areas, roadside strips, reed beds or marshes is subject to arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine of up to PLN 30,000.- Article 30(3) of the Act of September 28, 1991, on forests (Journal of Laws of 2017, No. 12, item 59, as amended):
(…) in forests and forest areas, as well as within 100 m of the forest boundary, actions and activities that may create a hazard are prohibited, in particular:
– lighting fires outside places designated for this purpose by the forest owner or forest superintendent, using an open flame, burning the topsoil and plant residues.- Strict sanctions apply to offenses of this type: Article 82 of the Act of May 20, 1971, Code of Petty Offenses (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 618, as amended):
(...) arrest, a reprimand or a fine, which under Article 24 § 1 may range from PLN 20 to PLN 5,000. Article 163 § 1 of the Act of June 6, 1997, the Criminal Code (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 2204, as amended) states: “Anyone who causes an incident that threatens the life or health of many people or property on a large scale, taking the form of a fire, is subject to imprisonment for between one and 10 years”.
It also reminds readers:
Every intervention involves a significant financial expense. Firefighters engaged in extinguishing grass, meadow and waste fires may at the same time be needed to save people’s lives and property elsewhere. It may happen that, because of people’s recklessness, they will not reach those who truly need help in time.