Credit: CGDIS

The Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (Corps grand-ducal d'incendie et de secours - CGDIS) has warned of an increased risk of vegetation and forest fires amid the ongoing heatwave.

For several weeks already in certain regions of Europe, firefighters have been confronted with large-scale vegetation and forest fires. Due to the high temperatures expected for the next few weeks without the prospect of substantial rain, the risk linked to such interventions is also increasing in Luxembourg.

The CGDIS has assured that it is monitoring the situation closely and is preparing for the possibility of an increase in the number and size of vegetation or forest fires. However, the CGDIS recalled that the most effective action against such fires remains prevention.

Consequently, Luxembourg's firefighters have appealed to the public to be vigilant and behave responsibly, taking the following advice into consideration:

Private persons: 

• Do not throw cigarette butts into the environment
• No open fires outdoors 
• Only have a barbecue in places provided for this purpose. Ensure there is a means of extinction nearby, such as a bucket of water
• Do not throw the embers into the environment but let the barbecue completely cool 
• Do not drive your car through fields or forests
• Do not throw glass bottles or broken glass into the environment
• Do not block access to forest roads or fields in order to guarantee access to firefighters

Farmers: 

• Provide a fire extinguisher in one's vehicle in order to be able to extinguish or limit any fire outbreak
• Check agricultural machinery in order to rule out any potential technical problems
• Unused tanks can be preventively filled with water in order to support the efforts of firefighters if necessary
• If working in the fields, provide a plow in order to possibly be able to limit the spread using furrows
• In the event of fire, do not put yourself in danger and do cooperate with the fire brigade (for example at the water supply level)

The CGDIS has also asked that, in the event of a fire, one quickly notifies the emergency services via the number 112, giving the precise location of the place and indicating the access routes to the firefighters when they arrive on the scene.