MOD lifts temporary ban on entering military woodlands due to low wildfire risk

Thanks to the favourable weather conditions and a low risk of wildfires, the Ministry of Defence has lifted the ban on entering the woodlands across the Military Districts Záhorie and Valaškovce, starting from 7 August 2021.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “We are aware that the accessible sections of woodlands across the MOD's estate are favoured by people for recreational purposes and they are not happy when there is a temporary ban in place over the summer holiday period. Nevertheless, thanks to this, we have prevented wildfires from happening. These, combined with high temperatures and dry weather, may otherwise have resulted in incalculable and irreversible consequences.“

The MOD imposed the temporary ban on 25 July 2021 in response to two wildfires occurring across the MOD woodlands. No wildfires have been reported since then, that is all the justification for the decision needed.