DONAL HICKEY: Address the burning question

People living in the foothills of mountains where gorse fires, many illegal, burn dangerously close to their homes are again waiting with trepidation to see what the forthcoming burning season will bring. Wild animals and birds for which this rugged terrain provides natural habitat could again be threatened by out-of-control fires in the next few months, writes Donal Hickley.

People living in the foothills of mountains where gorse fires, many illegal, burn dangerously close to their homes are again waiting with trepidation to see what the forthcoming burning season will bring. Wild animals and birds for which this rugged terrain provides natural habitat could again be threatened by out-of-control fires in the next few months, writes Donal Hickey.

Under the Wildlife Act 1976, it was an offence to burn between March 1 and August 31, but the new Heritage Act 2018 relaxes the law to allow burning in March in certain circumstances and locations. This marks a significant change.