Crackdown planned on illegal gorse fires

A major crackdown on illegal gorse and scrub fires is planned after damage to thousands of acres of land in Co Cork last year.

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.