Tragedy in Kharkiv Region: Woman Dies During Burning of Dry Vegetation
On April 1, a tragedy occurred in the Bogodukhiv district of the Kharkiv region: a woman died during the burning of dry vegetation. This was reported by the State Emergency Service.
The incident took place on the outskirts of the village of Krisino. Dry leaves and grass were burning on an area of about 800 square meters. During the firefighting operations, rescuers found the body of a woman around 60 years old.
According to neighbors, the woman was cleaning up dry vegetation and burning it. Presumably, she felt unwell, lost consciousness, and fell into the flames.
Risks of Burning Dry Vegetation
Burning dry vegetation in open areas poses serious risks, including:
- Strong winds can easily cause the fire to get out of control and spread to residential buildings, forest areas, or agricultural structures, causing large-scale fires;
- Harmful gases and particles enter the atmosphere, deteriorating air quality and potentially negatively impacting the health of people, especially those with respiratory diseases;
- The fire destroys insects, small animals, and bird nests with eggs or chicks, leading to a decrease in biodiversity;
- Microorganisms, insect larvae, and pupae living in the topsoil layer are killed during burning, disrupting the humus layer and reducing soil fertility.
In many countries and regions, unauthorized burning of vegetation is prohibited due to these dangers. In Ukraine, a fine of 3,060 to 6,120 hryvnias is provided for the unauthorized burning of grass or its residues under Article 77-1 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
