The incident took place on June 18.
Before 3:00 p.m., firefighters from Trzebień were dispatched to a forest fire in the town of Krępnica.
The threat was eliminated; fortunately, no one was injured. Forces and resources:
- OSP in Trzebień (2 units)
- JRG PSP in Bolesławiec
- OSP in Ocice
- OSP in Brzeźnik
- firefighting aircraft
- employees of the Bolesławiec Forest District.
How can forest fires be prevented?
As we read on gov.pl::
To prevent fires in forests, we appeal to everyone staying in these areas to follow basic rules:
- In forests and forested areas, in meadows, peatlands and heathlands, as well as within 100 m of the forest boundary, the following are prohibited:
- lighting fires outside designated areas,
- burning the top layer of soil and plant residue,
- smoking tobacco, except on paved roads and in areas designated for people.
- In national parks, use only designated trails. Beforehand, however, find out the forest fire danger level in effect on a given day and comply with it—for a ban on entering the forest may have been announced.
- Do not enter forest plantations or young stands up to 3 m tall.
- Use motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles only on roads marked with signposts.
- Remember what the forest fire danger levels mean:
- 0 – no danger,
- I – low danger,
- II – high danger; be careful,
- III – catastrophic danger; fires may not be lit even in designated areas.
The government website also states:
The greatest fire danger in forested areas is caused by people engaging in summer recreation there and by people collecting wild forest fruits. Forest fire danger is associated with the widespread violation of fire-safety regulations, especially the use of open flames in forests—that is, smoking cigarettes, lighting campfires and using barbecues in places not designated for these activities. Moreover, forest fires are caused by cigarette butts being thrown from cars driving through forested areas.
A forest’s susceptibility to fire depends primarily on weather conditions. They affect the moisture of the forest floor, and when it falls below 28%, the forest floor becomes significantly more susceptible to ignition. A forest is excellent fuel. However, a fire requires a source of ignition.
People are responsible for more than 90% of forest fires.
Arson, the early-spring burning of vegetation and human carelessness are just some of the causes of fires starting in forests. Most fires occur at the highest, level III forest fire danger. As a rule, they are surface fires, burning the forest undergrowth, bushes and individual trees. Persistently high temperatures cause the forest floor and vegetation on the forest floor to dry out.