Firefighters in Mazowsze respond to hundreds of grass and wasteland fires as dry season sparks dangerous blazes.
Rising Number of Fires
The last week, from February 28 to March 8, brought a clear increase in grass and wasteland fires. The State Fire Service is conducting a nationwide campaign “Stop Grass Fires” from March 1 to April 30 and appeals not to burn dry plants.
In Mazowsze, firefighters intervened hundreds of times in recent days, with grass, meadow, and wasteland fires constituting a large portion of reports. In the same period last year, the Mazowieckie voivodeship recorded the most such events in the country, with 338 grass fires, wasteland, and adjacent forests recorded just between March 8 and 9.
Major Fire Incidents
On Sunday, March 8, a large fire broke out in Warsaw’s Okęcie, burning about 2 hectares of wasteland between Żwirki i Wigury streets and Wirażowa. Nine fire service crews and 38 firefighters were dispatched, and the fire was brought under control without posing a threat to air traffic at Chopin Airport.
A day earlier, a large wasteland fire was also recorded near Jan Pawła II Avenue in Karczew, covering about 2,000 square meters of dry grass, bushes, and trees. Firefighters used two water jets and foamers to extinguish the blaze, with no injuries reported.
Nature Reserve Concerns
There were concerns about reports of fire in the Wyspy Zawadowskie Nature Reserve area, a particularly sensitive region under formal nature protection by the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Warsaw.
Dangers of Grass Burning
Firefighters emphasize that burning grass does not enrich the soil and doesn’t safely accelerate vegetation regrowth. High temperatures destroy soil-fertility microorganisms, kill animals, and cause fires to quickly spread out of control. In dry, windy conditions, fires can reach forests, buildings, power lines, or road infrastructure within minutes.
Legal Consequences
The State Fire Service appeals to never burn grass and immediately report smoke or fire to 112. Regulations provide fines up to 30,000 PLN for such actions, and if a fire threatens life, health, or property on a large scale, perpetrators face criminal liability and up to 10 years imprisonment.
