Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan
Following a spate of gorse fires in Kerry in recent days – with the fire service summoned over 30 times on Saturday and Sunday and alerted another 18 times on Monday – landowners and members of the public have been warned not to light any additional hillside fires between now and the start of September.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, said the burning of land during spring and summer is illegal and heavy fines will be imposed on any offenders
“In recent days, we have witnessed uncontrolled burning events which not only puts lives and property at risk but also has a massive environmental impact and it damages the lands due to the uncontrolled nature of these fires,” he said.
“Given the inherent fire risk in spring, it is important that no one should start an illegal fire in the countryside and give rise to unnecessary diversions of vital emergency service resources,” Mr McConalogue said.
“Late spring wildfires can put homes and livelihoods at direct risk and cause considerable disruption to rural communities, wildlife and habitats. We have seen this unfold for real in our rural communities in recent years,” the minister stated
The department urged all countryside users to be vigilant, to report any suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana and to alert emergency services via 112/999 if they observe any uncontrolled or unattended fires.
The exemption for the burning of agricultural green waste closed this Wednesday, March 1, and will not reopen for a final three-month period until September 1 and those caught breaching the rules risk prosecution, fines and potential imprisonment and the land will no longer be eligible for payment supports.
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