When visiting graves, burning fields, or cooking outdoors, do not light fires in forests or grasslands; if you see a mountain fire call 12119 or 119

Lighting a fire in a fire-prevention zone during fire-prevention season can bring a fine of 300 to 5000 yuan even if nothing burns. Burning 2 hectares of forested land is enough to file for the crime of negligently causing a fire, with 3 to 7 years, or up to 3 years when circumstances are lighter. Someone whose grave-paper fire burned 39 hectares got 1 year suspended for 2 years and still had to replant 32 hectares of forest.

Cost

No money. For grave visits switch to flowers, weeding, or planting; do not light paper money, incense, candles, or firecrackers on the mountain. Do not set fire to weeds or straw in the fields. For outdoor cooking bring food that needs no open flame, and take cigarette butts down the mountain. The hard part is older relatives who feel a grave visit without burning paper does not count.

Benefit

The Regulations on Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Fighting take effect on 1 January 2026; the former Forest Fire Prevention Regulations and Grassland Fire Prevention Regulations are repealed at the same time. Article 27: during fire-prevention season, open fire outdoors in fire-prevention zones is banned; no one may discard ignition sources in a fire-prevention zone. In high heat, drought, or strong wind, local governments may order a total ban on all outdoor fire use. Article 54: using outdoor fire in a fire-prevention zone without approval during fire-prevention season — order a stop. Individuals are fined 300 to 5000 yuan; units 20000 to 100000 yuan (2万 to 10万). Article 34: anyone who finds a forest or grassland fire situation shall report it at once. The Ministry of Emergency Management states the nationwide unified forest-fire number is 12119. Once it burns and the filing threshold is met, it is a criminal case. Criminal Law Article 115 paragraph 2 is the crime of negligently causing a fire: negligently causing a fire brings 3 to 7 years; when circumstances are lighter, up to 3 years or criminal detention. Among filing standards, one item is tied directly to mountain fire. Burning 2 hectares of forested land, or 4 hectares of sparse woodland, shrubland, young plantation, or nursery, requires filing. One death, 3 serious injuries, 500000 yuan (50万) in direct loss, or burning houses of 10 households also meets filing. In a Xinhua piece carried by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, experts said human causes such as ritual and farm fire account for over nine tenths of ignition causes. In historical data, ritual fire ranked first. Official case 1: In February 2021 Xie burned paper money at a grave in the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve and ignited weeds and shrubs. The burned area was 39.2156 hectares, mostly natural shrubland. After the fire he called to report, fought it with others, and turned himself in — counted as surrender. He had already replanted 9420 Qinghai spruce elsewhere. Even so he was sentenced for negligently causing a fire to 1 year of fixed-term imprisonment, suspended for 2 years. The court also ordered him to afforest 32.05 hectares in three stages, or pay the assessed amount if unfinished. Official case 2: In May 2022 Wang took part in a folk rite and lit ritual “weisang” offerings with a lighter. He covered the fire with stones, left without confirming it was out. The embers ignited dry grass, burned 121.69 mu, with loss of about 469000 yuan (exact 468578 yuan). He got 9 months of fixed-term imprisonment, suspended for 1 year 6 months. He must replant per the plan, or bear 986700 yuan (98.67万) in restoration costs if unfinished (nationwide; Regulations in force from 1 January 2026)

Notes

The beneficiary is you. Fire-prevention zones and seasons are drawn and published by people’s governments at county level or above; they differ by place — check the local notice before going up the mountain. The Ministry of Emergency Management states Tomb-Sweeping Day is a high-incidence and peak period for forest fires. Fines cover only fire-prevention season and zones. The crime of negligently causing a fire does not look at those; careless ignition that meets the filing threshold is enough. Both cases got suspended sentences only after surrender or active firefighting and replanting. Restoration money is separate and can far exceed the fine. When reporting, say which county, township, and village, which mountain, how large the fire is, and leave your phone number. Calling 119 also works; Xie’s case records that he dialed the fire-rescue number himself after the fire started. Many online articles cite fine figures from the 2008 pair of fire-prevention regulations, repealed from 2026. When the fire is large, do not try to beat it alone; move to bare ground, already-burned ground, or a stream edge — do not run with the wind.

Sources · 7

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