The temperature increases, and with it the risk of grass fires

The high temperature for this time of year, lack of rainfall and the fact that in March record numbers of grass fires are listed are factors that may indicate that the next weekend may be restless in this respect – said the spokesman of the Main Headquarters of the State Fire Service of the St. Brig. Karol Kierzkowski.

According to the forecasts of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, in the coming days the temperature in Poland will rise to even 16 degrees Celsius, and this in combination with a lack of rain and the upcoming weekend can – according to firefighters – lead to many grass fires. The services emphasize that there is no doubt that they are most often caused by man's intentional action.

– Only from the beginning of 2025, firefighters recorded 2951 grass fires, of which 11 percent in the Świętokrzyskie Province. This is three times more grass fires than at the same time in 2024 – said Senior Brig. Karol Kierzkowski. He added that grass arson is harmful to flora, fauna, atmosphere, but also for the state budget.

The fireman pointed out that the burning of grass often occurs as a result of the erroneous belief that their combustion accelerates their growth and improves soil quality.

– In fact, it's the opposite. The soil is sterilized, and the natural processes of the decomposition of plant residues and the assimilation of nitrogen from the air are inhibited – he pointed out.

Firefighters, who fight with grass fires every year, remind you that during fires you get a lot of harmful chemicals, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur or dioxin oxides. They are – as they say – dangerous to human and animal health, causing respiratory diseases, allergies and other diseases. Toxins that can contaminate water and soil also float in smoke, and negatively affect the entire ecosystems.

They also warn that grass fires spread rapidly, covering not only fields and meadows, but also nearby forests, farms and residential buildings. All you need is a gust of wind.

The data of the Main Headquarters of the State Fire Service shows that in 2024 firefighters intervened at 21,648 grass and wasteland fires. Losses related to this amounted to over PLN 22 million. In total, 48.6 square kilometers of area burned. Five people were killed and 36 were injured.

To extinguish grass fires in 2024, firefighters used over 57 million liters of water, and the average duration of a single action was 56 minutes and 14 seconds. The peak of the number of fires fell on March (3718), May (3472) and September (2787).

Firefighters emphasize that the burning of grass in Poland is prohibited under the provisions of the Act on nature protection and the Forest Act. For causing a meadow or wasteland fire, the law provides for a reprimand, detention or a fine of up to 30,000. zloty. When a fire caused by burning grass causes a threat to people's lives or the destruction of high -value property, the perpetrator threatens up to 10 years imprisonment.