Bulgaria Imposes Daytime Ban on Grass and Crop Maintenance to Prevent Fires

Jerusalem, 30 June, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – From July 10 to September 1, 2025, a ban on maintaining permanently grassed areas, arable land and perennial crops by mowing grass, machine cleaning (mulching) and removing bushes is being introduced in the time range from 08:00 to 03:00 the next day, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF) announced.

The restriction is being introduced by order of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov and aims to reduce the risk of fires during the fire season.

An exception to the ban is allowed for areas falling within Natura 2000 protected areas, provided that the activities are carried out between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., manually or with slow-moving mowers, observing a sequence of actions – from the center to the periphery or from one end of the area to the other, at low speed.

Failure to comply with the order will result in fines and property sanctions, in accordance with the Disaster Protection Act.

BTA recalls that Sliven firefighters extinguished fires in a wheat field and an orchard over the weekend.