Setting dry grass on fire: danger and responsibility

Annually, the Ministry of Emergency Situations faces the problem of dry grass fires and an increase in the number of fires caused by the burning of dry vegetation.

Fires have become a powerful destructive factor for the environment. When dry grass is burned, the root system of plants is damaged, soil and vegetation are depleted due to high temperatures, the fertile layer is destroyed, and beneficial shoots, insects, and animals perish. The smoke emitted during the burning of dry grass and debris is highly toxic, harms human health, and causes irreparable damage to the ecology.

Often, the fire spreads to forest areas and can reach threatening proportions, turning into peat and forest fires.

Very often, houses, outbuildings, and livestock sheds catch fire from burning grass, and people suffer burns, and sometimes perish.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations strongly recommends observing the following rules:

- do not leave unextinguished campfires, matches, cigarette butts, or glass bottles in recreational areas (in the sun, they act like magnifying glasses, focusing sunlight and igniting grass, moss, etc.);

- do not ignore burning grass; if you cannot extinguish the fire yourself, report the fire to the duty service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by calling 101 or 112;

- on household plots, land plots provided for collective gardening or dacha construction, burning of dry vegetation on the root is not allowed;

- places for bonfires must be cleared of combustible substances and materials, dry vegetation, and equipped with extinguishing agents. The process of burning and smoldering should be carried out in such a way that flames and sparks do not fall on building elements, structures, while the distance to protruding parts of buildings, structures from special cooking devices should not be less than 2 meters, and from bonfire sites – less than 8 meters.

- Have a conversation with children and explain that under no circumstances should they start a fire themselves, throw unknown objects or aerosol cans into it.

In accordance with Article 16.40 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses, liability is provided for the burning of dry vegetation, grasses in their natural state, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in fields, or for failure to take measures to extinguish fires – a fine of 10 to 30 basic units. Persons authorized to draw up administrative offense reports under Art. 16.40 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses "Illegal burning of dry vegetation, grasses in their natural state, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in fields, or failure to take measures to extinguish fires":

1. Bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

2. State environmental institutions managing reserves and national parks.

3. Bodies exercising state control in the field of forest use, protection, defense, and reproduction.

In accordance with Article 16.41, for starting fires in prohibited places, a fine of up to 12 basic units is imposed. In case of causing damage on a particularly large scale, criminal liability arises (Art. 270, 276 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus). Persons authorized to draw up administrative offense reports under Art. 16.40 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses "Starting fires in prohibited places":

1. State environmental institutions managing reserves and national parks.

2. Bodies exercising state control over land use and protection.

3. Bodies exercising state control in the field of forest use, protection, defense, and reproduction.

4. Bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.