The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is calling on people to be extra careful when in forests due to rising temperatures that increase the risk of fires.

The ministry reminds that lighting fires is banned under tree canopies, in young coniferous forests, old burned areas, damaged forests, places with uncollected timber, and in peat or dry grass zones. Campfires are only allowed in designated clearings prepared beforehand.

Violating fire safety rules can lead to fines between 300 and 500 lari, while causing forest fires through negligence may result in imprisonment for four to eight years, according to Georgia’s laws.