Raed Arafat, head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), is seeking the help of Orthodox priests in rural parishes to raise awareness and reduce the number of wildfires affecting Romania’s forests and fields.
During a press conference on Sunday, Arafat urged priests to read a message after the Divine Liturgy warning parishioners about the dangers of wildfires—especially since these cannot be attributed to high temperatures or natural causes.
Thousands of Hectares Burned in Early 2024
“We are dealing with forest fires—650 hectares burned in January, 4,400 hectares in February, and in just the first eight days of March, 4,600 hectares have already burned,” said Arafat.
“At this moment, we cannot blame these vegetation and forest fires on rising temperatures or lightning. They are caused solely by human actions—either by those who have long practiced this method or by individuals deliberately setting fires to clear fields or burn dry vegetation.”
Tragic Consequences of the Fires
The recent fires have had fatal and severe consequences. A 67-year-old woman from Maramureș was burned to death, while another person in Vâlcea suffered severe burns, and a firefighter was injured.
Arafat described the large-scale emergency response efforts involving firefighters, border police, the Ministry of Defense, volunteers, and medical teams. Thick smoke in Hunedoara has hindered helicopter operations, complicating the firefighting efforts.
Church Involvement in Fire Prevention
Local authorities and communities are being called upon to assist in preventing wildfires. As part of this initiative, Arafat announced that, starting this Sunday, priests in rural areas will read a message after each church service warning parishioners about the dangers of wildfires.
“We have asked that this message be read every week after the service for as long as this critical period lasts. We have also sought the Church’s support in spreading our message,” he added.
