On 28 August 2026 the cities of Zurich and Winterthur, together with five neighbouring municipalities, announced the end of the absolute fire ban that had covered residential areas since mid‑July 2026. The cantonal fire ban for forests and forest‑adjacent zones, however, remains in effect, according to the cantonal building department.

Background to the fire bans

In mid‑July 2026, Zurich’s authorities and the canton of Zurich imposed an absolute fire and fireworks ban for settlement areas after a prolonged dry spell raised the risk of uncontrolled fires. The ban, described in the NZZ article of 28 August 2026, was intended to be temporary, pending a measurable improvement in weather conditions.

At the same time, a separate cantonal decree kept a fire ban in place for forests and forest‑adjacent zones. The rationale, also set out by the cantonal building department, was that the soil and dead wood had not yet re‑wettened after a prolonged drought, leaving forested areas vulnerable to ignition.

During the eight‑week period, the ban covered the use of open flames, barbecues, and fireworks in all residential zones. The restriction applied uniformly across the canton, affecting private households, restaurants with outdoor terraces, and community events that traditionally used fireworks.

Lift of residential bans in Zurich, Winterthur and surrounding towns

On Friday afternoon, 28 August 2026, Zurich’s Security Department announced that the absolute fire and fireworks ban for its settlement area was lifted immediately. The statement was made by Security Department head Karin Rykart, who explained that recent rainfall and cooler temperatures had reduced fire risk in settlement areas to a level deemed manageable.

Winterthur followed suit the same day, revoking its absolute fire ban for the city area while keeping the fireworks ban in place. The municipal announcement, also reported by NZZ, highlighted that the decision was based on the same meteorological improvements that informed Zurich’s move.

In addition to the two cities, the municipalities of Goldküstengemeinden, Wädenswil, Richterswil, Schlieren and Hinwil announced that they too were lifting their absolute fire bans for residential zones. The coordinated timing suggests a joint assessment by local fire services and the cantonal authorities, although each municipality issued its own press release confirming the change.

The eight‑week duration of the residential ban is documented in the packet’s “key numbers” table: 8 weeks, covering the period from mid‑July 2026 to 28 August 2026. No further quantitative data – such as the number of incidents prevented or the exact amount of rainfall – were provided in the source.

Cantonal forest fire ban remains

While settlement areas saw restrictions eased, the cantonal fire ban for forests and forest‑adjacent zones continues unabated. The cantonal building department, cited by NZZ, emphasized that the soil moisture levels and the amount of dead wood have not yet recovered sufficiently to allow a safe relaxation of the forest ban.

Authorities warned that the forest fire ban will stay in place until measurable re‑wetting occurs, a condition that depends on future precipitation patterns. No specific timeline was given, and the department did not disclose any thresholds that would trigger a review.

Implications for residents and local authorities

For residents of Zurich, Winterthur and the five neighbouring municipalities, the lifting of the residential fire ban means that open‑flame barbecues, garden fires and private bonfires can resume without the need for special permits. Outdoor cafés and restaurants that had been forced to close their terraces for fire‑risk reasons can now reopen those spaces, potentially boosting local hospitality revenues after a quiet summer.

However, the continued forest fire ban means that any activities that could spark a fire in wooded areas – such as campfires, charcoal grills in forest clearings, or the use of fireworks near forest edges – remain prohibited. Firefighters have warned that the risk of forest fires is still elevated, especially in the drier parts of the canton that have not benefited from recent rain.

Local fire services are now tasked with monitoring two distinct regimes: a relaxed stance in settlement zones and a strict enforcement in forested zones. This dual approach requires clear communication to avoid confusion among the public, particularly for residents who own property that straddles the boundary between settlement and forest land.

Municipalities have pledged to issue guidance leaflets and update their websites with maps showing the exact limits of the forest fire ban. The cantonal building department has also indicated that it will increase patrols in forested areas to ensure compliance.

Open questions and uncertainties

The packet does not specify the exact day in mid‑July when the original residential ban was enacted, only that it began in “mid‑July 2026”. Consequently, the precise length of the ban could be a few days longer or shorter than the eight weeks cited.

Another unknown is the quantitative impact of the ban on fire incidents. The source confirms that the ban was lifted because of improved weather, but it does not provide data on how many fires were prevented during the restriction period.

Finally, the timeline for lifting the cantonal forest fire ban remains unclear. While authorities have linked the decision to soil moisture and dead‑wood conditions, no specific meteorological thresholds have been published, leaving residents uncertain about when the forest ban might be eased.

As the weather continues to evolve, both residents and officials will be watching closely for any further adjustments to fire‑risk policies across the canton.

For further background on fire‑ban policies in Swiss cantons, see the previous coverage linked in the article’s internal references.