Unfortunately, there are many children and adults who get seriously burned on Lag Baomer. In 2006, YWN reported about the tragic death of a Yeshiva Bochur who was critically burned on Lag Baomer & was Niftar a few weeks later. The authorities in Eretz Yisroel report three times as many burns & injuries on lag Baomer than on an ordinary day. In light of these statistics, YWN is bringing you the following public safety message from Beterem, the Israeli National Center for Child Safety and Health:
Wooden boards used for bonfires must be free of nails and do not take boards from building sites, which are dangerous. Establish a safe border around the wood using rocks.
Set up the pile of wood in an area free of inflammable material and far from trees and electricity and phone lines. Wear high-topped shoes and long-sleeved clothing to prevent harm from sparks.
It is advisable to have a cellphone to call the fire department or Hatzolah if necessary. Make sure there is a hose connected to the water at all times.
Never leave younger children unsupervised.
Do not throw any inflammable material, including petrol, bullets, spray cans or firecrackers, into the fire.
In the event of a person Chas V’shalom catching fire, do not let him run. Instead, roll him on the ground or cover his body (not his head) in a wet blanket. Do not forcibly pull off clothing that clings to the skin. In the event of burns, call emergency personal immediately. Cover burns with a sterile bandage or clean sheet. Do not apply any oil or ointment on the skin.
YWN Hopes that all those who follow the Minhag of making a Medurah / fire, do so in a safe manner and have a nice Lag Baomer.
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7 Responses
Making a bonfire on Lag Baomer has only recently become a widespread practice. Except perhaps in Meron, it does not have the status of a bona fide Minhag (heard in a recent Shiur by Rabbi Yisroel Reisman). This should be considered in deciding whether the safety risks are worth taking.
No GLASS either!
There is no mekor in halacha for this unnecessary minhag.
ONLT THE CHASAM SOFER IN HIS THUVOS BRINGS THE MIRON HADLAKA (SEE Yored Deah Siman 236/234 I think off hand)as been going on as far bach as the times of the Ari Zal, so yes its no minhag or Mekor in Halacha, but it surely has its mekoroswith the previous Chachmei Hamekubolim
It’s better to use flashlights during bidikas chometz then to have ch”v a fire. the amount of fires from Neiros Chanuka last year was alarming. And not all of them were due to the melting plastic oil holders. The bonfires started unnecessarily during beeur chometz is close to ch”v a chilul Hashem. There is no mitzvah drabbonon that is doicheh the dioraysoh of “Vinishmartem.”
Regarding comments #3 and 4: If there is a source for the Minhag, it is only in Meron, not elsewhere.
Also, if the source is “Al Pi Nistar,” it would be outweighed by the sources in Niglah which forbid putting oneself in danger. (With respect, this point appears to be overlooked by those who insist on doing Metzitza without using a glass tube to protect the infant from infection, even if the risk is small).
Regarding comment #5: it pains me when people get injured needlessly doing something that is required neither Mid’Oraysah nor Mid’Rabbanan (and as noted above, is not even a bona fide Minhag).
I can’t give identifying details, but a child in my community was seriously injured by a firecracker at a bonfire last night. Whatever the minhag status of the fires, fireworks are definitly NOT included, and they are NOT toys. I wish more people had read these warnings.