Coillte estimates gorse fire damage bill at €4m

Coillte has estimated that recovery costs arising from this week’s destructive gorse fires in Co Galway will total at least €3m to €4m if not more.

The fire, which yesterday was largely under control, has caused considerable damage to 1,200 hectares of forest land owned by the state-owned forestry and renewable energy company in the Cloosh Valley area of Galway. The area also houses the Galway Wind Park, the country’s largest wind farm project.

Coillte, Galway fire services and the air corps have been battling the fires this week and Coillte chief executive Fergal Leamy yesterday said the final bill for damage would probably top the €4m mark.