Grass fire

Hot and dry weather has set in Belarus in September, due to which the country maintains a fire-hazardous situation. In this regard, there are a number of danger factors – the occurrence of fires
in natural ecosystems, the spread of fire to settlements, power lines and communication lines. According to statistics, only in 8 months of 2024, 2,148 fires occurred in the republic (2023 – 3,322) in natural ecosystems, in which 4 people died and 4 were injured (2023 – 2 people died and 5 were injured). Of these, 1,837 (2023 – 2,617) cases of burning grass and shrubs were recorded over an area of 206.8 hectares (2023 – 306.8). On September 16 alone, 6 forest fires were extinguished in the republic – 3 in Gomel and 3 in Mogilev regions. The total area of ignition was about 5 hectares. Thus, in the Zhlobin district, a fire broke out in the floodplain of the Dnieper River near the urban settlement of Streshin, due to strong winds, it rapidly spread with a burning area of up to 12 hectares. 11 units of equipment, more than 30 people, including 2 Ministry of Emergency Situations helicopters, were involved in its liquidation. In the Stolin district, more than 120 people and 30 units of equipment, including 2 helicopters of the rescue department, were involved in extinguishing the fire.

It should be noted that in Belarus, in accordance with Article 16.41,
a fine of up to 12 basic units is provided for making fires in prohibited places. According to Article 16.40 of the Code
of Administrative Offenses, for illegal burning of dry vegetation, grass on the root, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in the fields or failure to take measures to eliminate fires, the guilty persons are brought to administrative responsibility in the form of a fine
ranging from 10 to 30 basic units. In case of damage
in a particularly large amount, criminal liability ensues.

In addition, Article 46 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus of June 15,
1993, No. 2403-XII "On Fire Safety" (hereinafter – the Law) provides that persons who violate or fail to comply with the requirements of fire safety legislation and international acts, requirements, prescriptions issued (given) by state fire supervision bodies, persons guilty of fires, bear disciplinary, material, administrative
and criminal liability in accordance with the legislation. At the same time, Article 18 of the said Law empowers local Councils of Deputies, executive and administrative bodies
to establish a special fire safety regime
and additional fire safety requirements in case of increased fire danger
in the respective territories, including a ban on making fires, visiting forests, etc.

When choosing methods for disposing of dry vegetation, post-harvest residues, it is better to prioritize safe ones. Fire safety requirements for the maintenance of the adjacent territory and land plots are established in the Fire Safety Rules for residential buildings, structures and facilities located on the adjacent territory, garden houses, outbuildings and facilities located on a land plot provided for collective gardening, dachas, outbuildings and facilities located on a land plot provided for dacha construction, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of March 25, 2020 No. 13 (hereinafter – the Rules). In accordance with paragraphs 10, 12 of the Rules, on the adjacent territory and land plots, it is allowed to make fires, use special devices for cooking (barbecues, grills, etc.) provided that the following requirements are met:

– fires should be made provided that citizens ensure continuous visual control over the burning and smoldering process;

– places for making fires must be cleared of flammable substances and materials, dry vegetation. It is recommended to dig around the fire site or make it in a special non-combustible container.

– extinguishing means must be available, which include primary fire extinguishing means (fire extinguishers, non-mechanized manual fire tools, containers with water supply, fire blankets), containers with bulk materials
and so on. At the same time, according to sub-paragraph 4.2 of paragraph 4 of the Rules, citizens are obliged to be able to use primary fire extinguishing means
to extinguish sources of ignition;

– the burning and smoldering process must be carried out in such a way that flames and sparks do not fall on combustible elements of buildings, outbuildings and structures, on stored combustible substances and materials. At the same time, the safe distance is determined by the citizen independently based on the size of the fire, the type of combustible materials
and weather conditions;

– at the end of the burning process, the remains of burning (smoldering) materials must be extinguished until the smoldering completely stops.

According to paragraphs 6, 11, 12 of the Rules, it is not allowed:

– burning dry vegetation on the root in the adjacent territory, land plots provided for collective gardening or dacha construction;

– making fires on peat soils, under tree crowns;

– using flammable and combustible liquids for kindling fires and coal (except for liquids specifically designed for kindling).

In addition, according to paragraph 16 of Chapter 4 of the Rules, it is not allowed to make fires, use special devices for cooking in buildings, outbuildings and structures, as well as on balconies, loggias, terraces, roofs and stylobates,
unless their placement is provided for by design documentation.

For reference: according to Article 20 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus
of June 14, 2003, No. 205-Z "On the Plant World", making fires, burning plant residues in public areas
in settlements, with the exception of specially equipped
places determined by decisions of local executive
and administrative bodies, is not allowed, and in other territories it is allowed with compliance with environmental protection requirements and fire safety rules. At the same time, burning dry vegetation (dry plants) and its residues
on the root is prohibited, unless otherwise provided by environmental protection legislation, wildlife protection and use legislation, and fire safety organization legislation. In addition, users of plant world objects, land plots or water bodies are obliged to comply with fire safety rules, and in case of detection of ignition sources of plant world objects, take measures to eliminate them.

Full implementation of these requirements minimizes the likelihood of ignitions and fires. If a citizen cannot comply with the Rules, making fires
is not allowed. The Rules can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on the global computer network (https://mchs.gov.by/)
in the "Citizens" section.

Every year, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations identify careless handling of fire by citizens and burning dry vegetation, i.e., the human factor, among the main causes of fires
in natural ecosystems. Most often, pensioners who are cleaning up their plots become victims of such fires.

One such incident occurred on April 2, 2024. Rescuers received a report of dry grass burning in the agrotown of Knyazhitsy, Mogilev district. As it turned out, the husband of an 85-year-old pensioner, cleaning up the yard, made a fire. Due to gusts of wind, the fire spread to dry vegetation and began to approach buildings. While trying to extinguish it, the pensioner fell to the ground and her clothes caught fire. A neighbor rushed to help and put out the flames. Unfortunately, the fire had already seriously harmed the pensioner: with a diagnosis of "thermal burns from flame and burn shock," she was hospitalized in serious condition.

On September 2 of this year, an incident occurred on a household plot in the village of Melniki, Gantsevichi district. Ministry of Emergency Situations employees promptly arrived at the scene, but the fire had already spread to an outbuilding on a neighboring plot. In the grass, rescuers found a 73-year-old woman with burns, who was trying to cope with the fire on her own. The pensioner suffered burns and was urgently hospitalized. The cause of the fire is being established.