McConalogue: wildfire ignitions occur from a variety of sources

Wildfires continued yesterday, with this NASA  Fire Information for Resource Management Service map showing fires  west of Limerick city, near the N69; south-west of Drogheda, near the M1; near Ballyconnell, Co Cavan; and near the motorway northwest of Edenderry, Co Offaly (https://firms2.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/).

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has said wildfire ignitions occur from a variety of sources, not just agriculture, and many recent fires have occurred on lands with no associated agricultural activity, including lands used for turf cutting, and public lands with open access used by the public for recreation.

“Fires associated with illegal dumping on bogland are a particular problem,” he told the Dáil last week.