Active last year's grass burning season starts in LatviaPrint
Active last year's grass burning season starts in Latvia
Becoming warmer weather active last year's grass burning starts in Latvia.
The State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) departed for 18 grass fires on Sunday, April 3 this year. Grass fires extinguished in Liepaja, Daugavpils, Jelgava and Riga regions. Overall, this year are already extinguished more than 51 grass fire.
The State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) departed for 18 grass fires on Sunday, April 3 this year. Grass fires extinguished in Liepaja, Daugavpils, Jelgava and Riga regions. Overall, this year are already extinguished more than 51 grass fire.
SFRS recalls that the combustion of last year grass harm the property, environment and even threatening the life of people.
According to the SFRS statistics, last year three people suffered in a fire, but the actual number is higher, because people after fire turned to doctors for a serious burn that should be treated in hospital.
Burning of grass - this is not a way to clean up abandoned and tidy area. Unfortunately, in Latvian are the broad areas which belongs to non-resident owners and they do not take appropriate care about their property. In these areas, grass fires threaten the neighboring property or nearby forests as well.
Every year a lot of grass fires registered in the cities. Although, compared to rural areas, fires were in much smaller areas, these fires are very dangerous, because the building are much denser, and grass fires threaten living houses, farm buildings, historical monuments, etc. urban sites.
Number of grass fires is dependent on natural conditions and human consciousness. If it is humid and warm spring, the growth of a new grass is rapid and the grass fire "season" is not long. However, the due to continuing absence of rain and a cold weather, last year's grass are drier and grass fires are caused not only by abused burners, but also by carelessly motorists who are driving on the road, thrown out the window cigarette butts, which ignited dry grass.
Each year grass fires destroyed the building, in same cases people were killed :
Year Number of fires Fatalities Burning houses
According to the SFRS statistics, last year three people suffered in a fire, but the actual number is higher, because people after fire turned to doctors for a serious burn that should be treated in hospital.
Burning of grass - this is not a way to clean up abandoned and tidy area. Unfortunately, in Latvian are the broad areas which belongs to non-resident owners and they do not take appropriate care about their property. In these areas, grass fires threaten the neighboring property or nearby forests as well.
Every year a lot of grass fires registered in the cities. Although, compared to rural areas, fires were in much smaller areas, these fires are very dangerous, because the building are much denser, and grass fires threaten living houses, farm buildings, historical monuments, etc. urban sites.
Number of grass fires is dependent on natural conditions and human consciousness. If it is humid and warm spring, the growth of a new grass is rapid and the grass fire "season" is not long. However, the due to continuing absence of rain and a cold weather, last year's grass are drier and grass fires are caused not only by abused burners, but also by carelessly motorists who are driving on the road, thrown out the window cigarette butts, which ignited dry grass.
Each year grass fires destroyed the building, in same cases people were killed :
Year Number of fires Fatalities Burning houses
| Year |
Number of fires |
Fatalities | Burning houses |
| 2010 | 1695 | 0 | 32 |
| 2009 | 2054 | 0 | 109 |
| 2008 | 1092 | 0 | 11 |
| 2007 | 2651 | 0 | 35 |
| 2006 | 7083 | 0 | 472 |
SFRS carry out control of compliance with the Cabinet of Ministers February 17, 2004 Regulations No.82 "Fire regulations" requirements. If the infringements of Regulations are fixed, the initiation of administrative proceedings according to the Latvian Administrative Violations Code is started up.
Fire Safety Regulations, paragraph 3 states that every person is obliged to prevent a fire or activities that may lead to fire. Paragraph 20 states that the object areas systematically cleared of combustible waste, but a 10 meter wide zone near building are cleared of dry grass and unharvested crop residues. Regulations 21states that the owner of the land (the driver) should take the necessary steps to avoid grass burning in the object. According to the Administrative Violations Code of 179 in case of violation of the fire requirements persons should to pay the fine - individuals from twenty to one hundred lats, but the legal persons - from two hundred to a thousand lats.
As in previous years SFRS will work with the Rural Support Service, which will receive information on grass burning sites. In case of grass burning, the payment of European Union (EU), less favorable area payments to
land owners will be reduced.
SFRS spent fuel in value almost 14 000 Ls and repaired seven fire trucks for extinguishing grass fires last year. Should be remembered that the SFRS resources are finite and in order to control these fires SFRS funds are spent, which is in fact the taxpayers' money.
Fire Safety Regulations, paragraph 3 states that every person is obliged to prevent a fire or activities that may lead to fire. Paragraph 20 states that the object areas systematically cleared of combustible waste, but a 10 meter wide zone near building are cleared of dry grass and unharvested crop residues. Regulations 21states that the owner of the land (the driver) should take the necessary steps to avoid grass burning in the object. According to the Administrative Violations Code of 179 in case of violation of the fire requirements persons should to pay the fine - individuals from twenty to one hundred lats, but the legal persons - from two hundred to a thousand lats.
As in previous years SFRS will work with the Rural Support Service, which will receive information on grass burning sites. In case of grass burning, the payment of European Union (EU), less favorable area payments to
land owners will be reduced.
SFRS spent fuel in value almost 14 000 Ls and repaired seven fire trucks for extinguishing grass fires last year. Should be remembered that the SFRS resources are finite and in order to control these fires SFRS funds are spent, which is in fact the taxpayers' money.
