Mayor Nahum Hofree has called upon residents to join in the effort to reduce the number of Lag Baomer bonfires in order to protect the environment.

In a letter distributed by the mayor to parents, the education community and congregants, he emphasized:  “Raanana, a green city which promtoes sustainability and works to significantly reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, must become a pioneer on this issue as well  This is a challenge of utmost importance for all of us, and especially for the education community and the parent, who must expand the awareness of the city’s students and youth as tot he serious damage caused by the bonfires to the city, the community, the country and to the planet.”

Lag Baomer bonfires is a significant factor leading to air pollution and greenhouse gas emission and each year, there is a new record for air pollution and greenhouse gas emission in Israel.  It also causes serious damage to the plants and earth as a result of blazing bonfires and it poses health hazards to residents, especially those in close proximity to the fire.

As a pioneer in the field of sustainability activity, Raanana has signed the UN Climate Treaty, in which we undertook to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 20% by the year 2020.

Pursuant to the call to reduce the number of bonfires, the municipality will hold an evening of singing this Saturday night 1.5.10 at 21:00, led by Yossi Lev and singer Vardina Cohen.  The evening will be held at the Mofet Theater Plaza on Eliezer Yaffe Street and attended by Mayor Nahum Hofree and Deputy Mayor Ronit Weintraub, Director of the Culture, Youth and Leisure Division.

This week, Mayor Hofree sent out the instructions for how to light bonfires in a manner that causes less environmental damage, to teachers, parents, youth  movements and synagogues.

Among these instructions:
• Do not burn materials such as plastic, tires or plastic bags – this causes the emission of carcinogens.
• Do not burn wood alternatives such as melamine, MDF and Formica – These are industrial materials made with glues and when burned they emit dangerous particles into the air.
• Do not throw painted or lacquered wood into the fire.
• Do not throw glass or stones into the fire – this material may burst due to the strong heat and endanger the participants.
• Do not throw asbestos boards or materials containing asbestos into the fire – this will release asbestos fibers into the air which are carcinogenic.
• Lighting smaller and more modest bonfires, using old wood, which is no longer in use, reduces pollution and the danger of global warming.
• Avoid cutting down live or dead trees.  Dead trees also are important to the ecological framework, such as providing a place for birds to sleep. 
• Light bonfires in open areas, where there is no danger of the fire spreading.
• Prepare a base for the bonfire inside a hole in the ground, and when the fire goes out, cover the area properly to reduce damage to the area.
• Place rocks around the bonfire to prevent things from catching fire and the fire from spreading.