Fire services on high alert

FIRE services across the south-west are on high alert after a spate of fires on gorse and hills over the weekend.

It has been reported that some of the fires throughout Cork and Kerry were started deliberately.

The burning is illegal under the Wildlife Acts and Environment Minister John Gormley has warned action will be taken against offenders.

Up to 20 firefighters battled a major blaze on Mount Kidd, just outside Skibbereen, which was reported just after 5pm on Sunday.

By early morning yesterday, they had managed to prevent the blaze spreading to a nearby forest.

Fire units across several Cork county towns also dealt with several smaller grass fires over the weekend.

Every available fire service unit in Kerry was called out on Sunday night to fight fires in the Killorglin, Tralee and Listowel areas where the spell of dry weather contributed to the spread of the blazes.

Many of the fires were started deliberately in the mistaken belief that burning made the land more fertile.

But, according to fire experts, the outbreaks simply deplete the land as well as rare plants.

Kerry fire station officer Nigel Corner said the fire service was under severe pressure.

He said there had been burning in all parts of the county, in the vicinity of the national park area of Killarney, as well as Tralee, Listowel and Sneem.

Deer and other wildlife was seen running in advance of the fires in the Killarney area and the safety of smaller wildlife and ground nesting birds was of particular concern, according to Mr Corner.

Meanwhile, Mr Gormley said destruction of hedgerows and the destruction of vegetation on uncultivated land had a severe impact on habitats.

“In Ireland, given the low cover of native woodland, hedgerows are of exceptional importance in providing habitats and corridors for maintaining wildlife diversity, particularly for birds, but also for wild plants and other ecologically important organisms that provide food and shelter for birds,” Mr Gormley said.

His statement was aimed at landowners, local authorities and other bodies.

Mr Gormley appealed to the public to bring “any alleged unlawful cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction” to the gardaí or the local National Parks and Wildlife Service of his department.

He has reminded local authorities and public bodies that the restrictions apply from March 1 to August 31 to allow wildlife and birds to rear their young and to allow vegetation to grow.

Reported incidents would be investigated and the department would seek prosecution in certain instances.

His department, Mr Gormley said, was paying particular attention to infringements by local authorities.