Warning over high fire risk of gorse fires in Donegal over the coming days
The warning comes after the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued a condition orange fire danger notice and follows gorse fires in the Creeslough and Killea areas
Donegal County Council has issued a warning of a high risk of gorse fires over the coming days.
The warning from the local authority comes after the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued a condition orange fire danger notice for all areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses, and other vegetation exist. The notice is in effect until midday on Monday, May 19.
The past week has seen gorse fires in the Creeslough and Killea areas.
The warning comes with highest temperatures of 18 to 23 degrees forecast for Donegal for Friday and Saturday in a warm spell that is set to continue into next week.
The council is appealing to landowners and members of the public to exercise caution and to take all necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of wildfires.
The local authority is also urging landowners and members of the public not to engage in activities that could cause wildfires.
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 dialing 999 or 112.
Householders or building owners in areas susceptible to wildfire are advised to remove or cut back any vegetation in the immediate vicinity of their house, building or oil tank to prevent wildfires damaging or destroying their property. Cleared areas should be maintained free of vegetation and combustible material
Donegal County Council would also like to remind 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.
Members of the public are also reminded that the burning of domestic, industrial, agricultural and construction waste is an offence under the Waste Management Act, 1996.