The use of open fire is strictly prohibited in forests, national parks and nature reserves and within 100 meters of them. In many places, for safety reasons, temporary bans on access to forest areas have also been introduced. The services urge people to exercise extreme caution and immediately report any signs of fire danger.
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136 fires in one day
The situation was the subject of a meeting of the crisis staff of the Government Center for Security with the participation of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska and Minister of Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński. According to the head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, there were 136 fires in private and state forests in one day alone.
The most difficult conditions currently prevail in the south-east of the country. In the Lublin Voivodeship, the moisture content of the forest litter has dropped below 10%, which, combined with high temperatures and strong winds, significantly increases the risk of fires. Therefore, extraordinary preventive measures were introduced, including a ban on entry to the Roztocze National Park.
This decision is related to a large fire in the neighboring Solska Forest, in the area of Osuchy, Kozaki and the Józefów Forest District, where the fire has already covered over 300 hectares of forest. Hundreds of firefighters, Dromedary fire-fighting planes, helicopters and soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces participate in the firefighting operation.
A threat throughout the country
According to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the State Forests have been cooperating with the staff led by the Ministry of Interior and Administration since the beginning of the campaign, providing both human resources and equipment used to extinguish fires from the air. Several dozen LP employees are currently participating in the activities.
The high level of threat applies to the entire country. Of the 23 national parks, nine have the highest fire risk level. Restrictions on lighting bonfires have been introduced in the Kampinos National Park, and the situation is monitored around the clock.
The services also use modern tools, such as artificial intelligence systems that detect smoke, monitoring using drones, and 24-hour duty to ensure quick response. The authorities' appeal remains clear: compliance with prohibitions and safety rules is crucial to reducing the risk of further fires.
