Burning issue facing Irish forests

Ray Ryan reports on efforts to plan ahead for the risk of forest fires, which have caused huge damage to Irish woodlands in recent years.

It is that time of the year again, when forests and woodland are most vulnerable to fires because ground vegetation is dead following winter.

Prolonged dry periods and seasonal high winds help create ideal conditions for wildfire to spread quickly through highly-flammable moorland undergrowth. Woodland located in the path of such fires can easily be destroyed.