Period of increased fire danger: what applies

Period of increased fire danger: what applies

Every year, usually from spring until the end of summer, the district directorates of the Fire and Rescue Corps declare a period of increased fire danger. It is declared for a whole district or only for part of it and applies until revoked.

When it is declared

Under Section 2 of Decree of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic No. 121/2002 Coll. on fire prevention, it is enough for one of these situations to arise: dry and warm weather lasting at least five consecutive days, three consecutive days with an increased incidence of forest or grass fires, or the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute rating the fire danger in forests as high.

It is revoked when the reasons cease. You can find the current status for your district on the website of the relevant district directorate of the Fire and Rescue Corps.

What is banned during it

Smoking, discarding burning or smouldering objects and using an open flame in places with an increased risk of fire.

Burning flammable materials on forest land and in its protection zone.

Lighting a fire in places where it can spread.

Burning off vegetation is banned at all times

This is often confused. Burning off stands of herbs, shrubs and trees is not banned only during a period of increased fire danger, but permanently, all year round. This follows from Section 14(2) of Act No. 314/2001 Coll. on fire protection. A breach carries a fine, and if the fire spreads, the cost of the intervention is added to it.

The difference between burning off and burning: you may burn raked garden waste on your own land if it does not conflict with the municipality's generally binding regulation and if you guard the fire and have the means to extinguish it. Burning off, that is setting fire to vegetation where it grows, is prohibited in all circumstances.

What this means for companies

If you manage forest land, agricultural land, a site with dry vegetation or a store of flammable material, you have a duty to increase supervision during a period of increased fire danger. That means patrols of the site, secured access to water sources, working fire extinguishers and a clear instruction to employees about where smoking and work with an open flame are not allowed.

Welding, cutting and grinding outdoors during a heatwave is a chapter of its own. Work with an open flame always requires a written permit, a fire watch and supervision after the work is finished.

If you need help

We carry out preventive fire inspections, fire protection documentation and employee training for companies and for building managers. Have a look at the service fire protection or write to us.