The Irish Timber Growers Association (ITGA) has issued a stark call for vigilance among landowners and the public to help combat the scourge of forest fires. They emphasize the importance of reporting any signs of land fires promptly, no matter how seemingly minor, to the fire brigade and relevant authorities. The ITGA stresses that swift action is crucial and urges individuals not to assume that someone else will make the call. Farmers, in particular, are highlighted as key players in the battle against fires. Donal Whelan, the technical director of the ITGA, underscored the devastating impact of forest fires, not only in terms of economic loss for woodland owners but also the broader repercussions for families and local communities. He pointed out the environmental toll, with forest fires releasing harmful smoke pollution and carbon into the atmosphere, posing risks to air quality and exacerbating health issues for those with respiratory conditions. The catastrophic effects on wildlife, flora, and natural habitats further underscore the urgency of preventing and controlling forest fires.
The ITGA has urged forest owners and managers to review and update their fire control plans, as well as enhance fire prevention measures and contingencies. This includes ensuring insurance coverage, maintaining access points, water sources, and having detailed fire response plans with emergency contact information readily available. It is not only illegal to burn growing vegetation between March 1 and August 31, but also prohibited to burn any vegetation within one mile of a forest without prior notification to the gardaí and the forest owner. Whelan stressed the need for public cooperation in forest fire prevention and swift response to visible fires. The recent gorse fire on Mullins Hill in Killiney, Dublin, serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers. Firefighters battled the blaze with three fire engines, a wildfire response jeep, and a water tanker, as strong winds carried smoke across a wide area. Two engines remained on-site overnight and into the following morning to manage flare-ups and prevent further spread.
The risk of gorse fires is particularly acute during dry spells from March to June when ground vegetation lies dormant and vulnerable to ignition. The Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine highlights that the danger escalates with reduced humidity and higher wind speeds, as even a small fire can quickly spiral out of control. The ITGA’s plea for vigilance and proactive reporting is underscored by the potential devastation that forest fires can wreak on landscapes, ecosystems, and communities. The collective responsibility to safeguard our forests and natural habitats rests on all of our shoulders, emphasizing the need for swift action and cooperation in preventing and combating forest fires.
