The incident occurred on September 7.

View photo: Forest fire View photo: Forest fire View photo: Forest fire

Firefighters from Krzyżowa:

(...) at 3:27 p.m. we were dispatched to a forest fire in the village of Stara Oleszna.

Resources and personnel:

  • OSP KSRG Trzebień,
  • OSP KSRG Krzyżowa,
  • JRG Bolesławiec,
  • Dromader aircraft,
  • a representative of the Forest District.

How can forest fires be prevented?

As stated on gov.pl:

To prevent fires in forests, we appeal to everyone staying in these areas to follow the basic rules:

  1. In forests and forest-adjacent areas, in meadows, peat bogs and heathlands, as well as within 100 m of the forest boundary, the following are prohibited:
    1. lighting fires outside designated areas,
    2. burning the topsoil and plant residue,
    3. smoking tobacco, except on paved roads and in places designated for people’s stay.
  2. In national parks, use only designated trails. First, however, find out the forest fire danger level in force on a given day and comply with it—an entry ban may have been announced.
  3. Do not enter forest plantations or young stands up to 3 m high.
  4. Use motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles only on roads marked with signposts.
  5. Remember what the forest fire danger levels mean:
    1. 0 – no danger,
    2. I – low danger,
    3. II – high danger; be careful,
    4. III – catastrophic danger; fires must not be lit even in designated areas.

The government website also states:

The greatest fire danger in forested areas is caused by people enjoying summer recreation in these areas and by people gathering wild forest fruits. The fire danger in forests is connected with the widespread violation of fire-safety regulations, above all the use of open flames in forests, namely smoking cigarettes, lighting campfires and using grills in places not intended for these purposes. Moreover, forest fires are caused by cigarette butts thrown from cars traveling through forested areas.

A forest’s susceptibility to fire depends primarily on weather conditions. They affect the moisture of the forest litter, whose decline below 28% significantly increases its susceptibility to ignition. A forest is an excellent combustible material. However, a source of fire is needed for a fire to start.

People are responsible for more than 90% of forest fires.

Arson, early-spring burning of vegetation and human carelessness are just some of the causes of fires starting in forests. Most fires occur when the forest fire danger level is at the highest, level III. As a rule, they are surface fires: the forest undergrowth, bushes and individual trees burn. Persistently high temperatures cause the forest litter and vegetation on the forest floor to dry out.