Tag Archives: gorse

In a week during which a major forest fire has raged  near Oughterard in County Galway, landowners and visitors have been warned to be more careful during this spell of exceptionally dry weather. Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine, Michael Creed and Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys have reminded landowners and the public that it is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Commenting on the recent incidence of gorse fires throughout the country, Minister Creed said, “The Department of Agriculture has issued a number of Fire Danger Notices to the forestry sector since the beginning of March, including …

Clare County Fire and Rescue Service is advising landowners to desist from burning activities due to a heightened risk of gorse, forest and bog fires. The Fire Service says the warm, dry weather, combined with easterly winds, has created “tinderbox” conditions across the county Firefighters from Ennis, Kilrush and Ennistymon responded to one of the largest wildfires of the year to date last evening when two square kilometres of bog and gorse were scorched on Ben Dash, located between Lissycasey and Kilmaley. Brigades were in attendance for nearly 11 hours at fires in the area. With forecasts suggesting a return to drier conditions early next week, following some light rain this weekend, the Fire Service says the risk posed by uncontrolled burning remains high. Denis O’Connell, senior assistant chief fire officer said that there has been significant damage to forestry and land as a result of last night’s fire. He also asked that people are vigilant and that they call the …

With forecasts suggesting further dry weather over the next week, Clare’s chief fire officer, Adrian Kelly, is reminding landowners and the general public of the dangers posed by illegal burning and forest, bog and gorse fires. Mr Kelly said that illegal burning can spread to private and State-owned forestry plantations and jeprodise the safety of dwellings and families living in rural areas. He added that it places an unnecessary strain and expense on the limited resources of Clare’s fire service. “We would like to remind landowners that it is an offence under the Wildlife Act to burn growing vegetation between March 1 and August 31 in any year, on any land not then cultivated. The sad fact is that if this simple rule was adhered to, many costly and dangerous wildfires would be avoided. “Thankfully, there have not been many reported fire incidents across Clare during the warm weather of recent weeks but the risk remains high while this dry spell …