Irish Examiner view: Wildfires are canary in the coalmine for climate change

Irish experts warn that air pollution will damage our health nationally if we respond to rising oil and gas prices by burning more solid fuels

A large gorse fire at Boleagh between Ballydehob and Bantry in West Cork earlier this month. We can be grateful that the wildfire season, while certainly in evidence in Ireland, did not wreak the havoc here that it did in Europe and North America. Picture: Andy Gibson.

As today marks the equinox, the astronomical date of the transition to autumn, we can reflect upon our summer heatwave and be grateful that the wildfire season, while certainly in evidence, did not wreak the havoc here that it did in Europe and North America.

Under the meteorological definition, autumn — the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” as described by the Romantic poet John Keats — commenced on September 1. But our sense is, particularly following a long, hot, summer, that the leaves are changing and dropping later this year.