Up to 50,000 euros fine: which rules apply to an Easter fire in your own garden

2022-04-14T11:59:53.628Z

Up to 50,000 euros fine: which rules apply to an Easter fire in your own garden Created: 04/14/2022 13:53 By: Andrea Stettner Easter bonfires are part of the tradition in many places at Easter. Such a fire is also possible in your own garden. But mistakes can result in a hefty fine. The Easter bonfire traditionally celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Standing together wit

Up to 50,000 euros fine: which rules apply to an Easter fire in your own garden

Created: 04/14/2022 13:53

By: Andrea Stettner

Easter bonfires are part of the tradition in many places at Easter.

Such a fire is also possible in your own garden.

But mistakes can result in a hefty fine.

The Easter bonfire traditionally celebrates the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Standing together with friends, eating and drinking - that's just part of Easter for many.

If the local Easter festival is canceled or if none is common in the area, many people want to light an Easter bonfire in their own garden*.

But is that even allowed?

And what rules apply?

An Easter bonfire is part of the tradition in many regions of Germany.

Easter bonfires require a permit

If you want to light a private Easter bonfire in your own garden, you should first ask your community whether and how such a bonfire is permitted.

In fact, each municipality or district regulates this differently.

In addition, the regulations for Easter bonfires have been tightened in recent years, as uncontrolled fires have repeatedly broken out, according to consumer protection Germany.

Easter bonfires are also repeatedly criticized because of the fine dust pollution.

If you still want to light your own Easter bonfire, you must seek

permission

from the responsible regulatory office .

What do I have to consider when having an Easter bonfire in my own garden?

If you have obtained permission for a private Easter bonfire from the municipality, you must comply with the applicable fire and environmental protection regulations.

You should heed the following rules:

Only things that do not pollute the environment too much or endanger the neighborhood through smoke or sparks
may be burned at the Easter bonfire
.
Only use untreated, dry wood or dried plant remains.
The burning of other waste, such as treated wood, packaging waste or bulky waste, however, is prohibited.
The burning of garden waste is also not permitted everywhere.
You should also not dispose of leftover leaves in the forest without further ado - fines may be imposed.
Before you set fire to branches or piles of brushwood that have accumulated over weeks, you
must move
them : animals such as hedgehogs, rabbits or shrews like to seek shelter in such piles of wood.
Some bird species even breed in it.
If their quarters are simply ignited, the lives of the small animals are endangered.
The German Nature Conservation Union (NABU) even advises only piling up the sawn timber shortly before burning and not touching older piles at all.
To ensure that the Easter fire does not degenerate into a major fire, the fireplace should be at least 50 meters away from houses and trees
for safety reasons
.
A distance of at least 100 meters from the road is recommended.
The German Fire Brigade Association also advises keeping an access road free for the fire brigade and emergency doctor.
The fire should always burn out
under supervision
and, if possible, be extinguished with a bucket of water or sand.