Burning of witches 2024: Ban on fires in Prague and the Central Bohemia region. What are the exceptions?

Due to the current warning of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) about the high risk of fires, strict restrictions regarding open fires have been introduced in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. These measures interfere with the traditional celebrations of the burning of witches, which take place every year on April 30.

Prague: Rules for banning bonfires for burning witches

It applies in the capital city of Prague from Tuesday 30 April 2024 to Thursday 2 May 2024 prohibition of making fires in places with a higher risk of fire, which include:

• Forest stands and their surroundings up to 50 m from the edge
• Forest parks, gardens and other potentially dangerous stands
• Hay and straw warehouses and their surroundings up to 50 m from the edge
• Areas of agricultural crops that can easily catch fire

Prohibited activities at risk locations include:

• Making or maintaining an open fire (including burning tongs)
• Use of any pyrotechnic products
• Smoking (except e-cigarettes)
• Use of lanterns and other open flame sources such as torches

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. People can also celebrate this evening in Kampa or in the Yellow Spa.

Central Bohemian Region: Rules for banning bonfires for burning witches

The following rules apply in the Central Bohemian Region:

• A complete ban on making fires in open spaces in risky places from April 30 to May 1. The ban may be extended.
• The use of fireworks is prohibited
• Prohibition of releasing lucky lanterns
• Prohibition of using water intended for firefighting for other purposes
• Prohibition of entry of motor vehicles onto forest and field roads, with the exception of owners and users during land management

Public events such as witch burnings may only be permitted provided that all necessary fire prevention measures are in place, such as constant surveillance and fire patrols, and the venue is not in a higher risk area.

In the Central Bohemian Region, the measures do not apply to private events in a secured location, provided that it is not burning in the open and the fireplace is sufficiently enclosed both from thermal effects on surrounding materials and against the transmission of fire by wind. The regulation therefore does not apply to the usual bonfires in private gardens or barbecues. However, increased caution is in order.

Additional information, warning and map of the Czech National Institute of Natural Resources and Environment

Residents and visitors to both regions should exercise extra caution and respect local ordinances and guidelines during these days. We recommend following up-to-date information on the bulletin boards of the Central Bohemian Region and the Portal of the Capital City of Prague and other regions. The increased risk of fires applies to a large part of our territory.

In the Czech Republic, the warning does not only apply to some parts of the Karlovy Vary, South Bohemia and Pilsen regions. In Moravia, on the other hand, the warning only covers most of the South Moravian Region.

Firefighters warn of unnecessary fires and false alarms due to unreported fires every year before St. Philip’s Night. On the thirtieth of April they have to go out more times 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.

Where to report a planned fire

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.

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