VUGD: kūlas burning is a threat to human life, property and the environment!

As the spring approached, the firefighters were hurrying to extinguish fire every day. This year, 42 cup fires have been extinguished. The National Fire-Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) reminds that the burning of the peat is prohibited and may endanger human life and property, and it causes serious damage to nature!
The number of fire fires, burning areas and activity each year depend on weather and human attitudes and consciousness. If there is a damp and warm spring, then the new grass grows quickly and therefore the “season” of the peat fires is not long. On the other hand, if there has been no rain for a long time, the last year's grass is becoming increasingly dry, but the number and areas of forest fires are growing.
The study carried out last year in the framework of the European Regional Development Fund Interreg Latvia – Lithuania programme shows that the causes of the outbreak of forest fires are most often associated with negligent action with fire – without surveillance fires, flammable cigarettes. Unfortunately, many still consider it to be the most economically advantageous way of cleaning the territory, even though the burning of the cake endangers the lives and health of people, as well as the real estate and causes damage to the environment.
THE VUGD experience shows that every spring, part of the population is trying to collect their non-aggregated areas – part of the illuminated areas – is burned by children or adolescents by playing or knowingly burning the pearl, but part of the cake fires comes out of unwatched fires or neglected discards.
In 2018, 2088 fire fires have been registered in the country, where six people have been affected, as well as 29 buildings have been destroyed. As a result of the combustion of the peat, 2018 hectares of Latvia are burned, which is by 18% more than in 2017 when the non-total areas are burned in 1648 hectares.
Although it seems that the burning of the peat is a problem for the whole of Latvia, there are, however, nowadays in which no forest fire is registered! Last year, the municipalities of New Castle, Luban, Varkava and Vecpiebalgs have been cleaned up in their territories without a cake. On the other hand, Daugavpils municipality registered the most peat fires – 111.
The total statistics on forest fires in Latvia are available here: www.vugd.gov.lv/files/opnews/Kulas_ugunsgreki_2012_2018.pdf 
What to do to prevent the burning of the beam?
In Cabinet Regulation No. 238 of 19 April 2016, “fire safety regulations”, Paragraph 6 states that the duty of every person is to prevent the occurrence of fire or activities which may lead to a fire.
In order not to create a beam in spring and to reduce the number of fire fires, the population and municipalities must collect their own properties already in the autumn – the grass must be harvested and the waste collected. The cleaning of the site should be carried out on a systematic basis, regularly measured from the combustible waste and the area around the buildings within 10 metres of the dry grass and the residues of the non-harvested crops. There will be no dry grass in the spring, and it will not be possible to burn.
More active involvement of local governments is necessary, both by drawing up the territory and by laying down the obligations and conditions for the cleaning of the territory in the binding regulations of the local government, as well as by controlling the fulfilment of these conditions. If all municipalities are involved and determine the requirements for the management and maintenance of these minimum land, as well as by controlling them, the probability of the formation of the peel and the occurrence of fires will be avoided.
What if it's burning?
In situations where the population pays a fire fire, THE VUGD must be called immediately to the single emergency call number 112 and the exact address must be given or, as far as possible, the place where the fire originates, and the name, surname and telephone number must be given and the controller's questions must be answered.
It is important to notify the firefighters as soon as possible of the fire extinguishers, so that they can arrive at the scene in time before the flames have spread to a large area and endanger the surrounding buildings.
Can a resident delete a fire fire himself?
If the citizen himself wishes to commence the deletion of the cavity before the rescue of the firefighters, it is preferable to assess the existing situation objectively and ascertain whether the extinguishing work will jeopardise the health and life of the citizen.
Water, sands, or tree branches, such as spruce branches, may be attempted to burn a burning grass. It is not recommended to try to burn the flames on top of them, as the footwear may not hold the heat generated by the fire, as well as the heat can be lit from the heat. By deleting or saving flames, it is necessary to stand on the burnt side, approximately 1-2 metres away from the flames, as if the flames suddenly change direction, the resident would be less endangered. Knowing that the deletion of a fire fire is not safe, the inhabitant, in order not to endanger his health and life, must stop the deletion of flames and wait for a firefighter in a safe place.
What are the penalties for burning a cake?
The VUGD shall be subject to compliance with the requirements of “fire safety regulations” in connection with the fire fires. If an infringement is detected, administrative proceedings shall be initiated in accordance with the Latvian Code of Administrative Violations.
The following penalties shall be provided for in the laws and regulations:
• in accordance with Section 179, Paragraph four of the Latvian Administrative Violations Code (LAPK), a fine shall be imposed on natural persons 280 to 700 euros regarding the burning of peas;
• in accordance with Section 51, Paragraph two of THE LAPK, regarding non-execution of land management measures and the non-cutting of medicinal products in order to prevent the formation of a beam, a fine shall be imposed on natural persons from 140 to 700 euros, and for legal persons - from 700 to 2900 euros;
• In accordance with Paragraph 21 of Cabinet Regulation No. 238 of 19 April 2016 “fire safety regulations”, land owners (possessors) shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the burning of the object does not occur in the territory of the object. In accordance with Paragraph 179, Paragraph one of THE LAPK, THE VUGD imposes a fine on natural persons from 30 to 280 euros, but a legal person from 280 to 1400 euros.
As in previous years, THE VUGD also cooperates with the rural support service, which provides information on the combustion sites. If the beam is burned, the land owners are reduced to the European Union area payment.
In the event that a citizen is aware that a person is burning a beam, then the firefighters must be called immediately to 112, as well as notify the national police of the offender.
The most common myths and the truth about the burning of the cake
A number of myths are spread in society about the burning of the peat, for example, that the land remains more fruitful and the burning of the peat is the ancient Latvian tradition, or that it is possible to clean up the unmanaged and unshared areas and that it is a way of fighting ticks. THE VUGD states that all the existing myths on the utility of the burnt are merely myths that do not correspond to the truth.
MYTH: it is possible to control the burning of the beam.
THE TRUTH: the influence of wind and other conditions, the direction of burning may change, the flames can rapidly spread and fall into the buildings, etc. People don't realize that the longer the grass, the larger the flames and thus a more controlled fire.
MYTH: the burning of the cake does not harm nature.
THE TRUTH: the burning of the cake causes significant damage to nature and its biodiversity, destroys valuable plants, insects and small animals, bird sockets. The greatest harm is caused by burning in large areas and late spring or even in summer, when almost all animals are built, bird sockets, contaminated eggs. In addition, birds of wet grassland, lakes and rivers are also burned.
MYTH: After the burning of the cake, the land remains more valuable and fruitful. THE TRUTH: the burning of the peat reduces the diversity of species and simplifies it. As a result of burning, some common grains with a strong root system that begin to prevail at the site of the earlier species. This results in the disappearance of rare or only natural grassland species, while burning by burning organic substances also produces a fertilizer which is not necessary for natural grassland. As well as the burning of peas, the diversity of species, which reduces the aesthetic beauty of nature, is reduced - the natural disappearance of different colours, scents and sounds caused by the diversity of flora and fauna.
MYTH: by burning a cup, it is possible to fight with ticks.
THE TRUTH: although part of the tick is burned, but the number is not large because the grass has not yet grown, and most of the ticks are not yet active.
MYTH: the burning of the cake is a tradition of ancient Latvians.
TRUTH: In ancient beliefs and agricultural descriptions there is no evidence that it would be a domestic tradition. In addition, it is often mentioned that the medicine is even lacking. For Latvians, the plot was holy and was used in full and care, so that there was no dry grass in the spring. The burning of the cake in Latvia began in Soviet times, it was introduced by the insiders.
VUGD informs and educates residents every year about the dangerousness of the burning of peat, but it is not enough to reduce the number of such fires – a significant number of peat fires are still recorded every year, where several buildings are burned and even people suffer. In order to reduce the number of fire fires, more active involvement of local governments is necessary, as well as changing the thinking and behaviour of the population, aware of the tragic consequences of their actions.
THE VUGD recalls that the burning of the peat is banned and threatens the property, health and life of people and causes significant damage to nature because of the destruction of valuable plants, insects, small animals and bird sockets! VUGD calls on the population to clean up their own areas without the burning of a cake and, in cases where a fire fire has risen, call THE VUGD immediately to the 112 telephone.
 
For more information: Inta Palatinate
VUGD prevention and public information division
Tel. 67075871, 27098250, inta.palkavniece@vugd.gov.lv