THE introduction of a system of planned burning of gorse, with revised deadline dates, is the only sensible way to control wild fires on land bordering Killarney National Park.
That is the written message conveyed this week to Minister Heather Humphreys by an action group set up to address the problem.
The Killarney Alliance Against Wild Fires noted that in an analysis of submissions received by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, over 70 per cemt called for flexibility on the permitted timeframe for the burning of gorse.
There have been calls to allow burning until mid April and, when the weather does not allow burning and there is an urgent need to burn, it should be readily allowed.
The Killarney Alliance has sought a practical approach from the Department of Agriculture on land eligibility and for sensitive lands to be monitored in dry weather between mid February and mid May. “Monitoring staff should be capable of dealing with fires that are in the early stages,” the group said in a sumbission to the minister.
They stressed that state funded fire breaks are essential within the national park and on neighbouring commonage and mountains.
“It should not be necessary to apply for a permit to burn protective lines adjoining inflammable areas,” the submission stated.
The Killarney Alliance pointed out that since the end of the management process operated by Coillte in the Killarney area, from 1972 to 1989, there is now a highly dangerous situation with mountain and commonage overgrown.
“It is now necessary to put in place a strategy to bring these areas back to a condition where they can be managed. Our advice is that this is likely to take five years and will need special assistance,” it stated in the submission from Alliance members who include Cllr John Joe Culloty, Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce representatiive Frank Lewis, farm representative bodies and the Killarney National Park Liaison Committee.
The Alliance maintained that the only scientific research on wild fires would appear to be the records kept during the period of Coillte management which found that up to 70 per cent of fires were malicious, between 20 and 30 per cent were landowners clearing their own land and 10 per cent were accidental.
“The analysis also found that where there was a firebreak along by a road the incidence of wild fires in that area dropped dramatically. Maverick pyrophiles did not want to risk being seen,” the Alliance pointed out.
The action group told Minister Humphreys: “We are most anxious that you see the situation on the ground in Killarney to ensure that historic practice and scientific research form the basis for this consultative process.”
