Prague Bans Open Fires and Smoking in High-Risk Zones Amid Heatwave and Fire Danger

Starting Thursday and until further notice, Prague has banned open fires in fire-prone areas — a measure introduced because of the extreme heat and warnings issued by meteorologists. The announcement was made by Prague City Hall spokesman Vít Hofman.

According to him, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has extended its high-temperature warning until August 2 and has simultaneously issued a warning about an increased risk of wildfires.

The list of high-risk areas includes forests and a 50-metre buffer zone around them, forest parks, parks, gardens and other green spaces capable of catching fire and spreading it, as well as hay and straw storage sites with a surrounding 50-metre zone, and farmland with vegetation prone to ignition.

In these areas, it is forbidden to light or maintain open fires — including burning branches and brushwood — to smoke (e-cigarettes excepted), to discard burning or smouldering objects, to use fireworks, and to launch sky lanterns or torches. In addition, water from fire hydrants and other firefighting sources may not be used for anything other than putting out fires.

An exception applies to organised events: fires may be lit, but the organiser must notify Prague’s regional fire service operations and information centre in advance and ensure a fire brigade unit is present.

According to meteorologists, temperatures in Czechia will climb to nearly 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday. The Institute is warning of severe heat stress, which will be especially extreme in southern Moravia. The heat could take a toll not only on human and animal health, but also on the economy, transport, energy supply and other infrastructure.

A slight drop in temperature is expected over the weekend, though readings will still stay well above 30 degrees. On Saturday, most of the country will see downpours, with thunderstorms possible, but rainfall will be light, so the fire risk remains elevated across nearly all of Czechia. The hot weather is forecast to continue into the start of next week.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz