Crackdown planned as fire chief warns illegal gorse fires put lives at risk

A fire chief has warned that people starting illegal gorse fires are putting lives at risk, while gardaí in Cork and Kerry pledge to crack down on offenders this year.

It’s the time of year again when out-of-control fires to burn off vegetation in upland areas threaten life, property, wildlife and thousands of acres of forestry.

Fire services are sometimes stretched to the limit in coping with such fires, often in remote areas, leaving larger centres of population with reduced cover in the event of emergencies and major fires.