Lighting a fire in your backyard, roasting marshmallows, telling tall tales and staring endlessly into the flames. It sounds like a perfect, cozy evening. But is this actually allowed? And what do the neighbors think of these bonfires?
Rules for fire pits
There are no national rules regarding safe stoking in your fire basket or fire bowl, according to the fire brigade. However, each municipality has described the rules regarding the use of fire baskets in the APV, the General Local Regulation.
Many municipalities apply the following rule in the General By-law: "It is prohibited to burn waste in the open air or otherwise to light, stoke or have a fire. The prohibition does not apply to lighting by means of candles, torches and the like or to atmospheric fires such as patio fireplaces and fire baskets, provided that no waste is burned."
Health risks of wood smoke
The RIVM has objections to lighting fires in the backyard. Wood burning is harmful to health. When burning wood in stoves, fireplaces and fire baskets, a mixture of harmful substances is released, such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and soot.
People with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, elderly people and children are the most sensitive groups and can develop more and earlier complaints from wood smoke. The emission of particulate matter from burning wood in the Netherlands is also increasing.
Fire baskets do not belong in built-up areas
The Wood Smoke Free Foundation advocates stricter rules for burning in gardens. "Fire baskets do not belong in the built environment," says a board member. "Everyone has the right to clean air, especially in and around their own home."
During a measurement on a beautiful, windless summer evening in Eindhoven, an unprecedented peak in fine dust was found. People started having breathing problems, which only decreased when the mist lifted in the morning and took the fine dust particles with it.
Government discouragement policy
The Dutch government has started a cautious discouragement policy. There is a stoke alert, a collaboration between the RIVM and the KNMI, which, depending on the weather situation, gives advice not to stoke that day. In addition, a public campaign will start in October to make people aware of the dangers of wood burning.
