Swiss drought cancels private fireworks and barbecues for August 1

All 26 Swiss cantons have imposed fire restrictions ahead of August 1, Switzerland's National Day, due to persistent and unrelenting drought. The sweeping regulations mean traditional celebrations will be notably subdued this year, reflecting the broader reality of how extreme weather is altering European public life.

The severity of the fire risk has prompted 15 cantons to enact complete bans on outdoor fires. This blanket prohibition covers major economic and population centres including Geneva, Zurich, Vaud, Ticino, and Basel-City. Another eight cantons, among them Bern and Lucerne, have implemented partial bans, prohibiting any open flames within 50 metres of forests. Only Graubünden lacks a canton-wide rule, delegating the authority to impose bans to its individual municipalities.

For the retail and hospitality sectors, these measures disrupt a reliable summer sales peak. The traditional National Day barbecue, centred on cervelats and veal sausages, has been effectively curtailed in areas under complete fire bans. Charcoal and disposable grills are prohibited alongside open wood fires. Households and businesses looking to host events must rely exclusively on electric or gas grills, provided local regulations permit them.

Private fireworks face an equally strict patchwork of prohibitions that essentially cancels informal neighbourhood displays. Cantons such as Bern, Lucerne, Solothurn, and the two Appenzells have banned private pyrotechnics outright. In Geneva, private fireworks are confined to perimeters strictly monitored by emergency services. Cities like Zurich and Winterthur have enacted their own total bans, overriding any cantonal leniency.

The restrictions have also complicated cross-border commerce, as some residents typically purchase fireworks in neighbouring countries. The Federal Council notes that importing recreational pyrotechnics requires a permit from the Federal Office of Police, unless the total weight is under 2.5 kg per person and the devices are not banned in Switzerland, such as ground-exploding fireworks. Crucially, authorities stress that legally importing fireworks does not grant the right to set them off under current drought conditions.

While municipal authorities will still stage many official, public fireworks displays, the suppression of private festivities underscores the tangible costs of prolonged dry spells. Local authorities have posted specific rules and potential fines for non-compliance on community websites, urging strict adherence as the forest fire risk remains high.