Fires damage costing industry €7.5m a year
Last year’s damage has been estimated at over €7.5m.
This includes lost timber value, re-establishing forests, and the cost of fighting the fires.
Ibec has estimated that, as a result of the fires, one million cubic metres of timber will have to be imported, representing four months of production in Irish sawmills. This puts jobs at risk.
Spring fires in the middle of the bird nesting season destroy tens of thousands of chicks and eggs.
The birds that escape find it difficult to survive because their food sources, such as insects, have also been destroyed.
Burning vegetation is extremely dangerous, and uncontrolled burning of vegetation poses a grave and unacceptable risk to the lives and livelihoods of farmers and forest owners.
Controlled burning of land or vegetation requires expert skill.
A carefully considered fire plan needs to be in place. Also ensure that:
* A fire is only lit within the legally permitted period for controlled burning (Sep 1 to Feb 28), and that the fire is more than one mile from the nearest woodland or forest.
* All nearby properties will be safe and that neighbours and forest owners have been informed.
Also, notify the gardaí, the local authority, and the fire service regional control centre.
* Sufficient help and equipment is in place to control the fire. If the fire gets out of control, ensure that emergency numbers can be rung immediately.
* Fire damage is reported to the Forest Service (to report: fires@agriculture.gov.ie by email, by phone to lo-call 1890 200 509 (working hours), or in writing to Forestry Division (Forest Fires), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford.
Fire weather index
Consult Met Éireann’s fire weather Index at the www.teagasc.ie/forestry website. This index provides information on the fire risk in different areas throughout Ireland, taking into account current and past weather conditions. It also provides a forecast index for five days ahead.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s document Prescribed Burning Code of Practice — Ireland, addresses these issues in detail. It can be downloaded from the department’s website, and hard copies will be available shortly.
But the simple, cost effective steps to reduce the risk of fire damage to your forest are: do not light fires in or near woodland; check fire breaks; insure your timber crop; plan ahead; discuss with neighbours; be vigilant; and report fire damage.
