Open fires and bonfires are generally prohibited in public areas in accordance with the Hazard Prevention Ordinance. Incidentally, registered traditional fires such as Easter fires are an exception. These must be registered with the Environment Department four weeks in advance, regardless of the location of the fire. According to the Lower Saxony Forest and Landscape Act (NWaldG), open fires, including smoking, are prohibited in forests from March 1 to October 31.

The City of Salzgitter's hazard prevention ordinance regulates exactly when barbecuing is permitted and when it is prohibited in public barbecue areas.

A barbecue ban applies if the grassland fire index published by the German Weather Service for the Braunschweig station indicates level 4 (high fire risk) or level 5 (very high fire risk). The German Weather Service (DWD) publishes this index on its website (opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab).

Once these levels have been reached, the ban on barbecuing will apply to the following barbecue sites and areas in Salzgitter:

- the four public barbecue areas on Salzgittersee:

• Reppnersche Bucht,
• near the diving entrance,
• near the elementary school by the lake,
• at the pirate playground,

- the barbecue areas in the Salzgitter mountain range along the hiking trails (provided and maintained by the state forestry):

• in Gebhardshagen (Gustedter Straße at the quarry),
• Lichtenberg (forest entrance at the large parking lot in front of the castle ruins),
• Salder (quarry at Hasselberg).

• Only barbecue charcoal in fireproof barbecues may be used,
• the charcoal must be completely extinguished and properly disposed of after barbecuing and
• barbecues must not be placed on the ground of lawns (e.g. disposable barbecues without legs).

The city of Salzgitter monitors compliance with the barbecue ban. Violations of the ban can be punished with a fine of up to 1,000 euros.

The professional fire department of the city of Salzgitter provides the following tips for private barbecues and behavior in road traffic:

• Even in private areas, accidents or fires can quickly occur due to carelessness when barbecuing. The use of fire accelerants such as alcohol or petrol is life-threatening due to the risk of deflagration!
• Barbecues should only be used on paved and non-flammable surfaces (no lawns) and with a suitable extinguishing agent such as a fire extinguisher or fire blanket.
• Children should be supervised at all times in the vicinity of a barbecue and should keep a safe distance of 2 to 3 meters!

Fires or smoke should be reported to the fire department immediately by calling 112. Incipient fires can be prevented from spreading further by trying to extinguish them yourself, but your own safety should always be paramount.