Laois Fire and Rescue issue warning over forest fire risk during the hot weather
A Condition Orange high risk forest fire warning is in place
Laois County Fire and Rescue Service are warning people to be extra vigilant due to the heightened risk of forest fires in the county.
They warned that there is a Condition Orange high risk warning for forest fires in place from midday today to 6pm on Saturday, June 27.
“Arising from current weather patterns and high temperatures 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.
Current conditions are forecast to largely remain in place throughout the span of this notice with further increase in temperatures possible. Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period. Expected fire behaviour, rate of spread and difficulty of suppression should be reduced due to high levels of live vegetation available but may be affected by higher wind speeds during Thursday”, they stated.
According to Laois Fire and Rescue, “Increased vigilance to fire is warranted in areas with open public access, active turf-cutting and other high-risk activities. Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana.”
They stated that “visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbecues in high-risk areas. Rural users should cooperate 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.”