Three local councils responsible for areas around the Upper Sûre reservoir remain at odds over how to handle the heightened risk of fires, especially at beaches and walking trails. While Esch-sur-Sûre council took early action last Friday by imposing a strict ban on barbecues at its lakeside beaches, neighbouring councils Boulaide and Lac de la Haute-Sûre have opted for a more lenient approach.
Instead of issuing outright bans, they released a joint statement urging citizens and visitors to exercise caution and act responsibly amid the dry conditions. Their appeal calls for a sense of civic duty, asking everyone to consider the heightened danger and to behave accordingly.
These councils advise that barbecuing should only take place in designated safe zones, with people keeping extinguishing materials within easy reach at all times. They also stress the importance of constant vigilance, and recommend that ashes never be disposed of in nature. Special containers, they add, are available for safe disposal. Additional precautionary advice includes a ban on discarding cigarette butts and a request for visitors not to park vehicles on tall grass, which can easily catch fire during periods of drought.
Highlighting the lack of unified action, council leaders from Boulaide and Lac de la Haute-Sûre are now calling for improved coordination and communication at the regional level to ensure consistent safety measures across all communities bordering the reservoir. They suggest that the Upper Sûre Commission would be the appropriate forum to establish such regional guidelines.
