The incident took place on May 14. At 4:52 p.m. firefighters from Trzebień were dispatched to a grass fire on Strażacka Street in their locality.
The danger was eliminated, and fortunately no one was hurt. Two units of firefighters from Trzebień took part in the operation.
As we read on gov.pl, in 2023 firefighters in Poland intervened 21,206 times in grass and agricultural wasteland fires. In Lower Silesia alone, there were more than 2,000 interventions.
The government website adds:
Unfortunately, in 2023 the following was recorded in grass and wasteland fires:
- 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 s
- Dispatches to grass fires every 10 min on average.
The State Fire Service’s “Stop Grass Fires” public awareness campaign began on March 1. Gov.pl: – For many years, the transition from winter to spring and early spring have been periods in which the number of grassland and wasteland fires clearly increases. Many people burn grass and agricultural wasteland, explaining their actions as a desire to fertilize the soil. For generations, many people have believed that burning grass will cause it to regrow more quickly and lushly, thereby bringing economic benefits. However, this is completely misguided 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 residue is halted, as is the assimilation of nitrogen from the air. A number of chemical compounds that are poisonous to both people and animals enter the atmosphere. Burning grass is also the cause of many fires, which unfortunately often lead to fatal accidents. Every year, several people die in incidents of this kind.
It also adds:
Areas of last year’s dried vegetation, which, due to the growing seasons occurring at this time, provide excellent fuel, combined with high human activity in this sector, result in a rapid increase in fires. People are responsible for more than 94% of the causes of these fires.
Wind also helps spread the 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 wind direction, fires very often get out of control and spread to nearby forests and buildings. People often lose everything they own in such fires. They also pose a direct threat to people’s health and life.
And warns:
Those who nevertheless want to take the risk must also reckon with the consequences:
- The fact 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 a person who removes vegetation by burning it on agricultural land, railway areas, roadside strips, reed beds or marshes is liable to arrest, restriction of liberty or a fine of up to PLN 30,000.
(…)
point 1. Anyone who removes vegetation by burning it on agricultural land, railway areas, roadside strips, reed beds or marshes is liable 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 woodland areas, as well as within 100 m of the forest boundary, actions and activities 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, burning the top layer of soil and plant residue.- Severe penalties apply to this type of offense: 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, pursuant to Article 24 § 1, may range from PLN 20 to PLN 5,000. Article 163 § 1 of the Act of June 6, 1997, Criminal Code (Journal of Laws of 2017, item 2204, as amended) provides: “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 liable to imprisonment for between one and 10 years”.
It also reminds readers:
Every intervention entails significant financial expenditure. Firefighters involved in extinguishing grassland, meadow and wasteland fires may at the same time be needed to save lives and property elsewhere. It may happen that, because of people’s recklessness, they will not reach those who truly need help in time.