Firefighters and meteorologists warn of the risk of fires due to witch burnings

In many places in the Czech Republic, fires will be lit during the traditional burning of witches during today’s last evening in April. However, this year’s celebrations will be affected by meteorologists’ warnings about fires, which apply mainly in Bohemia and parts of South Moravia. For example, in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region, there is a ban on making fires in risky places due to a warning from meteorologists. “The fire risk will decrease due to localized showers likely on Friday, May 3,” forecasters said.

At the same time, firefighters warn that people should be careful everywhere when handling open flames. Organizers of large organized events with ensured fire safety and with the awareness of firefighters can nevertheless start fires to a limited extent. Every year, the firemen have to go out more times during the burning of witches than is usual on other days. They are mainly concerned about unreported and unattended fires, which can quickly cause a fire in dry and windy weather.

People or event organizers should report planned fires to the fire department via the https://paleni.izscr.cz application, thereby preventing them from making unnecessary trips to suspected fires, among other things. Organizers can also ask for the cooperation of local volunteer firefighters when burning mainly large fires.

For example, Prague 6, which has been organizing the Witches on Ladronc for many years, met the conditions for lighting fires even during the ban. “This means that firefighters from the Lysolaje rescue service will be present at the scene, and we have registered the event at the regional operations and information center of the Fire Service. The border will therefore be ignited in the standard mode with increased protection by the volunteer fire department, but in connection with the current situation it will be extinguished earlier – in the order of tens of minutes,” the sixth city district said on Facebook today.

Celebrations of the Philip-Jacob night will also be offered by Prague’s Zluté lázně or Kampa, Brno’s Špilberk or Pilsen’s zoo. Events also promise hundreds of locations across the country. According to ancient tradition, the night from April 30 to May 1 is attributed with magical power. The holiday was originally celebrated on the full moon, which was closest to the sun exactly between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice. Fires were lit on high places to protect against witches. Only the making of fires has survived to this day, sometimes a witch’s figurine or a broom is burned, and roasting dumplings is also popular.