High fire risk warning now in place
A condition orange fire risk warning is now in place until Monday (May 12) according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The department said that based on current weather patterns 'a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist'.
DAFM has issued a public warning urging people to 'be prepared, be vigilant and prevent forest fires'.
A number of county councils have also appealed to landowners and members of the public to 'exercise caution' and be aware of the potential risks posed by the warmer weather.
One of these is Donegal County Council, who said: 'Landowners and members of the public are urged to be vigilant and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the fire service by dialling 999 or 112'.
The council has also advised landowners and members of the public that under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 and 2000 it is 'an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between March 1 and August 31 in any year'.
Fire risk
According to DAFM current high-pressure dominated weather and warm, dry weather conditions are expected to remain in place over the weekend.
'Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period.
'Fire behaviour and spread rates may be moderated by increasing levels of live growth
in upland vegetation, but will also be influenced by low humidity levels and variable light to
moderate windspeeds.
'Windspeeds may exceed 20km/h in some areas at times,' it warned.
The department also highlighted that because of the weather, higher levels of visitor activity are expected in the countryside this weekend.
'Continued vigilance is warranted in areas with open public access and areas associated with active turf cutting. '
'Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas.
'Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana,' DAFM has urged.
It has also called on rural users to co-operate with 'all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles'.
DAFM has advised forest owners and managers to be well prepared for any possible scenarios.
'The department recommends that forest owners and managers should consider the fire
mitigation measures that they can put in place to help prevent loss or damage to forest
resources through fire,' it added.
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