"Every fire is someone's tragedy." The Gomel prosecutor's office analyzed the causes of the fire disaster.

Photo by the Prosecutor General's Office, May 18, Gomel. More than 520 fires were registered in the southeastern region from January to April, the regional prosecutor's office told BelTA.

Careless handling of fire remains the primary cause of these fires, accounting for more than 250 fires, 131 of which were caused by unextinguished cigarettes. Fires are also often caused by improper installation, assembly, and operation of furnaces, heat-generating units, and devices (143), as well as by improper installation, assembly, and operation of electrical networks and equipment (99), and other causes.

"During this period, 27 people were injured and 38 died, including 34 deaths due to careless handling of fire, 26 of which were due to smoking. Most of the 38 fatalities—23—were intoxicated," the prosecutor's office noted.

The problem of burning dry vegetation during garden maintenance remains relevant. "In accordance with Article 20 of the Law of June 14, 2003, No. 205-Z (as amended on January 4, 2022) 'On Plant Life,' lighting fires and burning plant residues in public areas in populated areas, with the exception of specially designated areas determined by decisions of local executive and administrative bodies, is prohibited. In other areas, it is permitted subject to environmental protection requirements and fire safety regulations," the Gomel Region Prosecutor's Office reminded.

Administrative liability for the illegal burning of dry vegetation, standing grass, stubble, and crop residues in fields, or failure to take measures to eliminate fires, is established by Article 16.40 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus . The fine for violating this rule ranges from 10 to 30 basic units. Under Article 16.41 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, lighting fires in prohibited areas carries a fine of up to 12 base units. In March, a fire

broke out in the Buda-Koshelevsky District , damaging a house and outbuildings. It was established that a man had failed to clear the fire site of dry vegetation, causing the fire to spread to a neighboring plot and damage property. The villager was held administratively liable and fined. Violating fire safety regulations also carries criminal liability. For example, in April, a resident of the Dobrush District became a defendant in a criminal case. He was responsible for burning dry vegetation, causing a fire that ignited neighboring houses. The Dobrush District Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 304 of the Criminal Code for violating fire safety regulations.



"Every fire is a tragedy for someone. And most often, it's the result of disregarding simple rules. Before throwing away a cigarette, leaving the stove unattended, or ignoring the alarming smell of burning, consider whether you're ready to take responsibility for the possible consequences. Take care of your safety today," the regional prosecutor's office concluded.