Osnabrück tightens Easter bonfire rules with strict permits and safety measures
Easter Bonfires Permitted Again This Year on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 5–6
This year, Easter bonfires may once again be held on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 5 and 6, under regulations set out in Osnabrück's municipal ordinance on public safety and order.
The rules stipulate that bonfires are prohibited in Osnabrück's city center and built-up districts. Fires are also banned in allotment gardens, as the required safety distances cannot be maintained there. For all other areas, a permit is mandatory. Each permit will specify the conditions that must be met. As in previous years, Easter bonfires must be public in nature—meaning they must be accessible to all and publicly announced, for example via the press or online.
The maximum base area for a bonfire is 25 square meters, with a maximum stack height of four meters. Only woody shrub and tree clippings may be used as fuel. For animal welfare reasons, the material must be completely restacked one day before burning. Minimum distances from buildings and vegetation must also be observed, depending on the size of the fire; as a general rule, a distance of at least 15 meters from individual trees should be maintained.
To prevent fire hazards, permits will include the condition that all Easter bonfires in Osnabrück are prohibited if wind speeds reach force 7 (50 km/h or higher) or if the forest fire danger level is 4 or 5. For further information before Easter, the regional fire service control center can be contacted at +49 541 500300.
This year, applications must be submitted by March 20, preferably via the city's service portal at service.osnabrueck.de, or alternatively by email or in writing to the Department of Climate, Nature, and Environment. The contact person is Heiko Brosig (phone: +49 541 323-2434, email: [email protected]). First-time applicants must arrange a paid inspection of the proposed site by the Department of Climate, Nature, and Environment.
The full regulations for Easter bonfires, along with a city map showing prohibited areas, are available online at www.osnabrueck.de/osterfeuer. An interactive map allows users to check whether a bonfire at their desired location can generally be approved.
