This year’s largest forest fire was extinguished in Zvārtavas parish of Valka region during the holidays – 14.49 hectares of mature forest burned near Cepurītes lake, the State Forestry Service (VMD) informs.
The representatives of the service indicate that the fire broke out as a result of possible human activity. During the holidays, a large number of vacationers stayed in the forest, and several motor vehicles were detected, which were driving illegally in the forest area off the roads.
Since the beginning of the forest fire-free period, six forest fires have been extinguished, in which 17.04 hectares of forest land have burned. In total, 23 forest fires were registered this year, in which 19.01 hectares of forest area burned.
It has already been reported that on May 3, the forest fire-free period began in Latvia, in which prohibitions and restrictions are set. Administrative, civil and also criminal liability may be applied for their non-compliance.
In order to reduce the chances of a forest fire, it is forbidden for people to drop burning or smoldering matches, cigarette butts or other objects while staying in forests and swamps, to light bonfires, except in specially designed places that do not allow fire to spread outside of this place, to leave bonfires unattended, burn garbage, drive motor vehicles through the forest and swamp off-road or perform any other activity that may cause a fire.
Also, it is forbidden to carry out any burning that creates smoke without coordination with the nearest forestry of VMD, as it can mislead the attendants of the fire observation towers.
During the fire-free period of the forest, it is allowed to burn the cutting residues in the felling area only with the written permission of the forester of the VMD.
At the same time, the owners of the forest must ensure that the forest roads and tracks are freed from fallen trees and bushes, so that, if necessary, it is possible for forest fire engines to move freely.
After extinguishing a forest fire, monitoring the fire site is the responsibility of the owner.
VMD is a state administrative institution under the authority of the Minister of Agriculture. The service monitors the management and use of the forest, the compliance with the requirements of the regulatory acts governing hunting, as well as implements forest fire protection and collects information about the forest and the forestry activities that took place in it, hunting and game animals.
