Wólka Niedźwiedzka. 84-year-old died in a grass fire

A tragic fire broke out on Tuesday (3 September) after 4 p.m. in Wólka Niedźwiedzka in Rzeszów County. About half a hectare of wasteland burned down. The fire was extinguished by five fire brigades. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated by the police.

This year, Podkarpacie firefighters extinguished 1,365 grass fires. One person died and four were injured. Last year, there were 1,196 such fires, no one died.

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As the spokesman for the Podkarpackie firefighters, Brigadier Marcin Betleja, points out, many people still wrongly believe that fire is the best way to control weeds. – They forget that a slight wind is enough for a fire to get out of control and quickly turn into a tragic conflagration – he added.

The problem of grass burning, as the firefighter claims, appears every year. – Carelessness and human thoughtlessness cause animals to die in these fires, nearby forests, houses, farm buildings to burn. People also lose their lives in such fires. Man is responsible for over 94 percent of the outbreak of these fires – said Brig. Betleja.

He emphasized that burning grass causes the soil to become barren, prevents natural decomposition and interrupts the process of humus formation. On the other hand, a number of toxic chemical compounds are released into the atmosphere.

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The firefighter also pointed out that grass fires often ignite the underground layer of peat, which can lie up to a dozen or so meters deep. – These are long-term fires that can last up to several months and are exceptionally difficult to extinguish – added Brig. Betleja.

In Poland, burning grass is prohibited, and failure to comply with this ban is punishable by a fine, arrest, and in some cases a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture also imposes financial penalties for grass burning; it may reduce or even withdraw direct subsidies for farmers.

As Brig. Betleja emphasized, grass fires, due to their large size, engage a significant number of firefighters who may be needed to save lives at that time.

– It may happen that due to people's recklessness we will not reach the aid in time. We appeal to people not to set fire to the grass. Let us remember that such a fire can end tragically – emphasized Brig. Betleja.