Consequences of burning dry vegetation

March 11, 2025

With the arrival of warmth, owners of private plots tidy up their household plots, including by burning garbage and dry vegetation at the root. Often, the burning of garbage, dry vegetation and shrubs leads to the spread of fire to residential buildings and utility buildings. Sometimes, a seemingly harmless fire leads to tragedy – the death of people.

Carelessness and disregard for safety rules often lead to fires in the spring. Improper disposal of dry vegetation, burning grass, and careless handling of fire when making bonfires can cause serious consequences: utility buildings and residential houses burn, and fire threatens forests and human lives.

In the Republic of Belarus, 1 person died from ignition, 5 people were injured.

In accordance with Article 15.57 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, burning dry vegetation, grass at the root, as well as stubble and post-harvest residues in fields, or failure to take measures to extinguish fires on land plots, entails a fine of 10 to 40 basic units.

Article 15.58 of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for a fine for lighting bonfires in prohibited places of up to 12 basic units.

According to Article 15.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for violation of fire safety requirements in forests or peatlands, which led to the destruction or damage of forests or peatlands, a fine of 25 to 50 basic units is provided.

Existing legislation provides for criminal liability for such violations in accordance with Articles 270 and 276 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

To prevent an emergency situation involving fire, simple safety rules should be followed when making bonfires and cooking food on a grill (barbecue), namely:

– use special devices for cooking, bonfires should be made under the condition of ensuring continuous control over the process of burning and smoldering;

– designated areas for bonfires must be cleared of combustible substances and materials, dry vegetation, and equipped with extinguishing agents;

– 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, as well as on stored combustible substances and materials;

– upon completion of the burning process, the remnants of burning (smoldering) materials must be extinguished until smoldering completely ceases.

– do not allow bonfires on peat soils, under tree crowns;

– do not allow bonfires or the use of special devices for cooking on balconies, loggias, terraces, roofs, and stylobates, except in cases where their placement is provided for by design documentation;

– do not allow the burning of standing dry vegetation on adjacent territories, land plots provided for collective gardening or dacha construction.

It should be remembered that burning standing dry vegetation, crop residues, as well as failure to take measures to extinguish fires are subject to administrative liability from 10 to 30 basic units.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations reminds you that if you witness any emergency situation or an incident happens to you, report it to the rescuers by calling 101 or 112.