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Several cantons have imposed an absolute fire ban, and many cantons also have a ban on fireworks.
Switzerland is suffering from heat and drought. Because of the sometimes high risk of forest fires, several cantons have imposed an absolute fire ban or at least a fire ban in the forest in recent days. Burning off fireworks is also restricted or completely forbidden in many places. The map below gives an up-to-date overview of the fireworks bans.
A jump into the cool water is therefore the more appropriate program on August 1st than fireworks or bonfires.
In many cantons, the ban on fireworks should remain in place until the national holiday on August 1st. Because rain remains scarce in the next few days. Many rivers and lakes currently have little water and the lack of precipitation in many places is clearly visible, according to SRF meteorologist Felix Blumer. “A jump into the cool water is therefore the more appropriate program on August 1 than fireworks or a bonfire,” says the doctor of natural sciences.
In the canton St. Gallen it is forbidden from Wednesday to fireworks in forests or near forests. The following also applies: do not light a fire at official fireplaces, do not throw away any smoking products and do not let sky lanterns (flying Chinese lanterns) rise.
The Canton law also recently banned the setting off of fireworks. However, as part of the August 1st celebrations, communities are allowed to set off fireworks in secured zones at their own risk. The ban applies in addition to the absolute fire ban in and near forests.
In the canton Zurich the burning of fireworks is generally still permitted. However, the municipalities have the last word. Nine municipalities have already banned the setting off of fireworks. In the canton Uri Fireworks, lighting fires in the forest, launching hot-air balloons and throwing away lit cigarettes and matches are prohibited. Forest fire danger level 4 has been in force in Uri since last Wednesday, which signals a “great danger”. Fixed fireplaces or portable wood and charcoal grills may not be used either.
In the canton Solothurn there is an absolute ban on fires in the forest, near the forest, on river and lake banks and a general ban on fireworks throughout the canton due to acute drought. The ban on fireworks also applies to the national holiday of August 1st. The risk of forest fires has risen to risk level 4 (high).
The Canton Valais has issued a general fire ban in the open air. The ban also applies to fireworks, said the head of the security department, Frédéric Favre. For official celebrations around August 1, municipalities can designate secured zones that are under the supervision of the fire department, according to the announcement. All private fires and fireworks are also prohibited in these zones.
As in Valais, in the cantons Ticino and Grisons no fire should be lit outdoors at all. In Graubünden, this regulation does not apply to the Engadin, Münstertal and Samnaun areas. The cantons too Freiburg and Vaud have imposed an absolute fire ban.
The Canton Aargau has also imposed a fire ban in forest areas. According to the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the same applies in the cantons Bernthe two Basel, Glarus, Zurich, law, Neuchâtel, Schaffhouse and Thurgau.
The Canton Lucerne has in consultation with the Central Swiss cantons (Lucerne, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Schwyz and Zug) and the fire brigade inspectorate decided to maintain the significant forest fire risk (level 3). With the maintenance of the risk of forest fires “considerable”, it is permitted to fire fireworks outside of the forest with the necessary caution, according to a media release.