After the Lunar New Year holiday, some Hakka communities begin their tomb-sweeping traditions. In February this year, several grass fires have already occurred in cemeteries across the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli regions. As the peak tomb-sweeping period in March and April approaches, the risk of fire incidents rises.
According to statistics from the National Fire Agency, there were 735 grass fires in cemeteries nationwide in the two weeks before the Qingming Festival in 2022. In 2023, this number increased to 1,310 cases. Expanding the statistics to include the period from Lunar New Year to Qingming Festival (approximately two months) in 2024, the number of nationwide fire incidents reached 3,623 cases, with 2,158 of these fires linked to people burning weeds, leaving firefighters overwhelmed.
As the peak tomb-sweeping period in March and April approaches, the risk of fire incidents increases. (Photo/Source: Ministry of the Interior Website)
To reduce fire incidents, the Ministry of the Interior released the “2024 Qingming Fire Safety Preparation Plan” in December 2023 and collaborated with the Ministry of Environment to implement several measures. The Ministry of Environment advocates for eco-friendly worship practices, such as “flowers instead of incense” and “charitable acts instead of burning paper money”, or using local Environmental Protection Bureau's designated paper money burning services to reduce air pollution.
The National Fire Agency also promotes the slogan “Tomb-Sweeping Without Fire”, which includes:
- No burning weeds
- No burning paper money
- No setting off firecrackers
- No discarding cigarette butts carelessly
- Do take your trash with you
In addition, fire departments across regions will dispatch fire trucks to key cemetery areas and use drones to expand surveillance to reduce fire risks.
Fire departments across regions will dispatch fire trucks to key cemetery areas and use drones to expand surveillance in order to reduce fire risks. (Photo/Source: Ministry of the Interior Website)
The National Fire Agency reminds the public that unauthorized weed burning may violate Article 14 of the Fire Services Act, with fines up to NT$3,000. If the fire results in air pollution, violators may be fined between NT$1,200 and NT$100,000 under Articles 32 and 67 of the Air Pollution Control Act. Severe cases may violate the Criminal Code’s arson law, resulting in criminal charges.
The public is urged to follow fire safety regulations during tomb-sweeping activities to avoid violating the law and to help maintain public safety.
