High fire risk warning for outdoor burning

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service is asking landowners and the general public to refrain from any outdoor burning during the ongoing spell of warm weather. The Department of Agriculture today (Thursday) issued a Condition Orange – High Fire Risk for Forest Fires from 22–30 May.

The Fire Service has warned that any outside burning can spread to private and State-owned forestry plantations and jeopardise the safety of dwellings and families living in rural areas.Landowners are being reminded that Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from March 1 to August 31 during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife.

According to Adrian Kelly, Clare chief fire officer, “The highest risk period occurs between ongoing dry spell of weather will do little to reduce this risk.”

Commenting on the issue of backyard and uncontrolled burning, Mr Kelly said,“Uncontrolled burning can result in loss of life as well as damage to property. It is often mistakenly seen as a cheap method of managing waste and it is presumed not to be harmful to the environment, but nothing could be further from the truth. Controlled burning should follow the procedure of ensuring that any burning is pre-planned and takes place in a controlled fashion. The Fire Service must also be notified through the 999/112 system prior to any burning taking place.”