Burning of dry grass: dangers and responsibilities

Every year, with the arrival of spring, the Ministry of Emergency Situations faces the problem of spring burning of dry grass and an increase in the number of fires caused by the burning of last year's dry vegetation.
With the arrival of spring, the fire hazard period begins, as people start to tidy up around their homes by burning waste
and last year's grass. Every year, rescuers continue to respond to hundreds, if not thousands, of fires related to seasonal burning.
In 2022, there were 7990 fires in natural ecosystems in the republic, resulting in 17 fatalities. Of these, 7258 cases involved the burning of grass and shrubs over an area of 1829.1 hectares. The main causes of fires are traditionally careless handling of fire, burning of dry vegetation, i.e., human factors.
Most often, the victims of fires that occur during grass burning are retirees who are tidying up their plots.
On April 14 of last year at 13:50, rescuers received a report of a fire in dry vegetation on Borisov Tract Street in the city of Lepel. Upon arrival at the scene, the Ministry of Emergency Situations units observed the burning of dry vegetation and one passenger car, a "Mercedes Vito". The fire was extinguished by the rescuers, and no one was injured. As a result of the grass burning, the engine compartment and paintwork of the "Mercedes Vito" were damaged. The front bumpers of nearby vehicles, a KIA Sportage and a Volvo S-80, were also damaged.
Two hours later, a similar incident occurred in Ushachsky District. A retiree was burning dry vegetation on her property in the village of Lyubzhino in Ushachsky District, and while attempting to extinguish the rapidly spreading fire, she sustained burns to her lower and upper limbs of varying severity.The retiree was burning dry grass and sustained burns: she was hospitalized.
On April 22 2022, in Braslav District, a house caught fire while burning waste: the retiree sustained burns and died from the injuries in a healthcare institution.
Many are unaware of the harm they cause to the environment by trying to use fire to clear last year's grass. Grass fires spread quickly, especially in windy weather. The fire flares up instantly, and it is very difficult to contain and stop it. Burning waste on a household plot or simply near buildings can easily lead to ignition and cause damage, or even
completely destroy structures
There are known cases where, in the presence of the perpetrators, the fire spread to residential houses, buildings, and sheds.
One such case occurred in March 2022 in the village of Ruda Lipichanskaya in the Mosty District of the Grodno Region. On the 26th, around 4 PM, the owners of one of the houses decided to tidy up their land. All accumulated "goodies" were gathered into one large pile. A match was struck, and everything went wrong. A strong wind spread the flames in seconds over dozens of meters, and the dry grass caught fire immediately. The owners called the Ministry of Emergency Situations only when the fire was already "devouring" the structures. To extinguish the flames, rescuers needed more than two hours, ten fire crews, and workers from the forestry and local agricultural enterprise with special equipment. The fire destroyed 2 residential houses, 3 non-residential buildings, and 17 outbuildings. 
Tidying up is done not only on personal plots but also on roadside areas. As a result of such "general cleanups," parked vehicles nearby sometimes suffer. In gusty winds, fire spreads very quickly, and it is not easy to extinguish it.
In Belarus, burning dry vegetation is prohibited by law. According to Article 16.40 of the Code of Administrative Offenses
for illegal burning of dry vegetation, grass at the root, as well as stubble and crop residues in fields, or failure to take measures to extinguish fires, the guilty parties are subject to administrative liability in the form of a fine ranging from 10 to 30 basic units.
In accordance with Article 16.41, lighting fires in prohibited places is punishable by a fine of up to 12 basic units.
In cases of causing damage on a particularly large scale, criminal liability ensues.
When choosing a method of waste disposal, it is better to prioritize safety. If you still decide to light a fire in your yard, do not neglect simple safety measures. This should only be done in calm weather. Fires are better lit away from buildings, forests, or straw stacks.