The authorities are reinforcing fire prevention and safety guidelines for visitors with the aim of mitigating human impact on the country’s protected areas.
The care of biodiversity in protected areas largely depends on the responsible behavior of tourists.
Since official statistics indicate that 95% of fire outbreaks are a consequence of human activity, fire prevention in National Parks has become a structural priority.
To ensure a safe visit and protect the natural heritage, it is imperative to strictly follow the regulations on fire management and waste management.
Regulations for fire use in wilderness areas
The fundamental rule for any visitor is that making campfires is strictly limited to the sectors specifically marked and enabled for this purpose. Outside these camping areas or recreation areas with indicative signage, the use of fire is completely prohibited.
In areas where there is no permitted infrastructure, tourists must exclusively opt for the use of lightweight stoves.
Additionally, weather conditions play a determining role. Even in permitted sites, authorities recommend refraining from lighting fires if there are strong wind gusts, as this exponentially increases the risk of sparks spreading to the surrounding vegetation.
Extinguishing protocol and waste management
One of the common causes of fires is the poor extinguishing of embers. The official fire prevention protocol in National Parks dictates that fires must be extinguished using plenty of water.
It is essential to remove the ashes and verify, by touch, that the remains are completely cold before leaving the place.
Under no circumstances should the fire be covered with dirt, as this method retains heat and can reactivate the flames hours later.
Regarding other combustion elements, such as matches or cigarette butts, they must be extinguished safely and carried back with the rest of the waste.
Waste management is equally critical: visitors must remove all their trash, including glass and cans, which can act as fire starters under intense solar radiation conditions (magnifying glass effect) or pose additional dangers to the local fauna.
Emergency response
Early detection is vital for disaster control. In case of spotting a smoke column or an active fire within a reserve, immediate notice must be given to the competent authorities.
The enabled emergency numbers are 108 (specific for emergencies in Parks) or 911 nationwide. When reporting, it is crucial to specify the exact location or geographical references to facilitate the deployment of firefighters and fire brigades.
