Drought: bonfires, lanterns and thermal weeders prohibited in the province of Luxembourg

The Province of Luxembourg has adopted a police order to prevent the risk of fire

The climatic conditions of recent weeks have led the Province of Luxembourg to take certain measures to limit the risk of fire . Since Tuesday morning, campfires are banned throughout the province. The governor Olivier Schmitz has just adopted a police order prohibiting certain activities likely to cause wildfires. Scout camps and other youth movements are not the only ones involved. Also covered are: fires outside forest areas, except in specially designed barbecue areas in public and private homes; fires in forest areas without exception; the use of thermal weeders or similar devices; Chinese lanterns. Offenders are subject to a fine or imprisonment.

Several communes, such as Durbuy or Rendeux, had already ruled in this area by banning Scouts from lighting bonfires. Provisions that now apply to the entire province. " One should also be particularly vigilant about potential hazards ," says the province on its website. " A match, cigarette, shard of bottle or the escape of a vehicle parked on tall grbad can cause the destruction of several hundred hectares of natural spaces. The numbers speak for themselves. In just two weeks, the Luxembourg rescue zone has carried out no less than 80 interventions related to brush, grbad and forest fires. The opportunity also to recall that the Forest Code prohibits smoking in the forest on pain of a fine with immediate perception. The provisions included in the Governor's police stop apply until further notice. And the situation could last. Weather forecasts do not suggest abundant rainfall in the coming days.