Crackdown planned on illegal gorse fires
A number of state agencies, including gardaí, have come together in an effort to significantly curb the problem, which led to fire brigades in North and West Cork dealing with 88 outbreaks in 2011.
West Cork’s most senior fire officer Cormac Daly said landowners often burnt away scrub to generate new grass growth. The practice was acceptable, he said, provided they did not light fires during a prohibited period from March 1 to Aug 31.
However, he said many landowners were breaching regulations and causing untold problems.
During drier spells, he said, fires can quickly get out of control, destroying property, forestry and wildlife habitats.
An estimated 16,000 hectares of land were destroyed by fires nationally last year, which cost the State around €20 million.
Sergeant Ian O’Callaghan, in charge of the West Cork Garda Division’s crime prevention programme, said 88 fire units responded to 88 illegally-lit fires last year. The majority occurred in the Bantry area but there were also outbreaks in Macroom, Clonakilty, Kanturk and Bandon.
“We have set up the first inter-agency unit of its kind in this country to combat this problem,” Sgt O’Callaghan said. “The unit involves the gardaí, fire service, Teagasc, Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service along with the Department of Agriculture.”
He pointed out, under Section 39 of the Wildlife Act 1976, landowners are obliged to notify the authorities seven days before burning land during legally- allowed period from Sept 1 to the end of February.
“We had five prosecutions in the West Cork Garda Division in recent years for burning during the illegal period. Fines of up to €1,500 and/or six months in jail can be imposed. Nobody has yet been jailed,” he said.
Fire chief Cormac Daly, meanwhile, said illegally-lit fires can put a huge strain on the fire services.
“Some of the fires can continue all day and all night, depending on the terrain and the weather. Some are malicious while others happen when landowners are trying to burn off scrub to get a new growth of grass through,” Mr Daly said.
He is urging all landowners who light fires during the legal season to contact the fire brigade in advance through calling 999.
Fires, he warned, not only caused damage to habitats but can also cause other serious issues: “We have had traffic accidents as a result when smoke spreads across roads. That’s why it’s illegal to light a fire within 50ft of a road.”
He said the fire service can levy landowners up to €480 per crew if units are called out to tackle fires that have gone out of control.
