Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Tomb Sweeping Festival is approaching, and many people are preparing to visit cemeteries to pay respects to their ancestors. The Taipei City Fire Department reminds the public that common causes of fires during tomb sweeping are often related to burning joss paper, weeds, setting off firecrackers, or improperly discarding cigarette butts. These actions can lead to environmental pollution and even pose a threat to public safety. Citizens are advised to avoid using open flames while tomb-sweeping to reduce the risk of fire and protect the natural environment.

Five Ways to Prevent The Fire During Tomb Sweeping

In order to prevent cemetery fires, the Taipei City Fire Department urges citizens to follow five "no fire" methods during tomb sweeping and ensure a safe and worry-free experience:

1. Do not burn weeds: Use tools to manually clear the cemetery, and place weeds in garbage bags to avoid burning them and causing a fire.
2. Do not burn joss paper: Choose alternatives such as "offering merits instead of money" or "offering rice instead of money".
3. Do not set off fireworks: It is recommended to play electronic firecracker sounds on a smartphone, which is both safe and convenient.
4. Do not throw cigarette butts: Ensure cigarettes are properly extinguished and discarded safely to prevent sparks from igniting the weeds.
5. Do not Leave Your Trash: After tomb sweeping, take your trash with you to keep the cemetery clean and reduce the accumulation of combustible materials.

The Fire Department stated that this year, in addition to using various channels such as the official website, social media platforms, electronic billboards, community bulletin boards, and broadcasts to spread fire prevention information, they have also placed awareness posters in incense shops. This reminds citizens to take fire safety precautions while purchasing ancestral offerings. Furthermore, the department has collaborated with other city government agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection, the Police Department, and the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office (MSO), to coordinate efforts such as clearing dry grass and shrubs from cemeteries, promoting alternative offerings like "merit in place of joss paper" and "rice in place of joss paper," centralizing the burning of joss paper, assisting with cemetery patrols, and conducting fire prevention campaigns during the Qingming Festival. These comprehensive efforts aim to enhance public awareness of disaster prevention and safeguard the safety of all citizens.

The Fire Department reminds the public to download the "Taipei City Disaster Prevention App" and the "The First Scene App" before tomb sweeping to stay updated on weather and disaster prevention information, helping to respond to various emergency situations. Additionally, if burning paper offerings or weeds accidentally causes a fire, leading to air pollution or casualties, relevant authorities will enforce penalties according to the law. Taipei City has won the top spot in the "2024 County and City Overall and Sustainable Competitiveness Survey" by the Far Eastern Magazine for the fourth consecutive time, and ranked first among the six metropolitan cities in "Public Safety and Firefighting." Therefore, the public is urged to prioritize safety while paying respects to ancestors, and to continue working together to protect the precious natural environment and the safety of their families