[PIO] Announcement of the Department of Forests on public excursions for the August 15 holiday and the risk of forest fires

The Department of Forests of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, on the occasion of the Fifteenth of August holidays, declares its readiness to welcome the public that will visit our forests and that it will do everything necessary to enjoy them and have a beautiful and carefree time. At the same time, however, he makes a heartfelt appeal to the public to respect nature and the environment and not to leave litter lying around when leaving. It also stresses that the repeated catastrophic fires of recent days should be a source of concern and an example for the public to be particularly careful during their excursions, avoiding completely actions and activities that are likely to cause a fire. To this end, close cooperation with the staff of the Forestry Department and other services, especially the Police, is required.

It is particularly emphasized that lighting fires in forest and rural areas is strictly prohibited and that this action constitutes an offence which, according to the Forestry Law, is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to €50.000,00 or both penalties together.

A special appeal is made to:

1. owners of holiday homes, as well as owners of houses, that if they light charcoal for the preparation of food, they should light it in specially designed areas that are completely safe. Avoid lighting wood because it poses a greater risk and, finally, make sure that the charcoal and fire are completely extinguished at the end of the barbecue
2. professional or amateur and unskilled persons should not use metal cutting or welding tools (emery, welding or soldering) near dry vegetation, as the sparks produced are one of the main causes of forest fires in recent years
3. owners of holiday homes who intend to entrust foreign workers or third parties with the task of clearing the yard of grass, explain to them and discourage them from trying to burn it, since lighting a fire is strictly prohibited and at the same time poses a risk of causing a fire with unforeseeable consequences.

It is also reminded that:

1. it is forbidden to dispose of lit cigarette butts in forest and rural areas,
2. lighting fires is allowed only in picnic areas and only within the specially designed areas set up by the Forestry Department
3. if anyone notices smoke or fire, they should immediately call the toll-free line 1407 (Forestry Department) or 112 (Fire Brigade).

(AF/SX)
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