Coveny asks farmers and public to be vigilant over fires

Dry weather: Fire service struggle to control gorse & forest fires

Following the recent gorse and forest fires across the country, Agriculture Minister, Simon Coveney has reminded farmers and the public to be extra vigilant of the ongoing risks over the coming days.

Minister Coveney noted the number of wildfires that had been reported over the Easter Weekend. 

“My Department’s Forest Service took the unusual step of notifying foresters, forestry companies and other stakeholders of the potential high risk fire conditions developing in recent days and I would like to reiterate that message to forest owners, farmers, turf cutters, members of the public and anyone working in or enjoying our countryside."

Dry and windy weather over the last couple of days have seen the fire risk level raise to 'high to extreme' level.

It is expected that the high risk conditions will persist until the coming weekend at least, according to Met Eireann’s Fire Weather Index (FWI).

”We don't have information yet on the source of the wildfires reported over the Easter weekend, but the incidents demonstrate the danger of uncontrolled fires,"  Minister Coveny said.

He reminded land owners not to participate in illegal burning of vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August and asked the public to be vigilant and report  suspicious activity to the Gardai or other emergency services as needed. 

Fire crews have been called out to severe land fires in counties Wicklow, Wexford, Clare, Mayo, Galway and Sligo over the past number of days.

Gardai believe some of these fires may have been started deliberately.

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