'Condition Orange' high fire risk warning issued by DAFM
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued a 'Condition Orange' warning, indicating high fire risk.
The warning came into effect at midday today (Tuesday, June 23) and will remain in place until 6:00p.m on Saturday (June 27).
The department said the warning is arising from current weather patterns and high temperatures.
A high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.
"Current conditions are forecast to largely remain in place throughout the span of this notice with further increase in temperatures possible," DAFM said.
"Elevated fire risks are expected in all areas during this period.
"Expected fire behaviour, rate of spread and difficulty of suppression should be reduced due to high levels of live vegetation available but may be affected by higher windspeeds during Thursday, June 25."
Vigilance
The department said increased vigilance to fire is warranted in areas with open public access, active turf-cutting and other high-risk activities.
"Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fireactivity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána," it said.
"Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas.
"Rural users should cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles."
Forest owners and managers
All forest owners and managers are advised to prepare for likely outbreaks of fire.
Fire lines, fire plans, fire suppression equipment should be reviewed and made ready and other relevant contingencies such as insurance, helicopter contracts, should be checked and confirmed.
The department recommends that forest owners and managers consider the fire mitigation measures that they can put in place to help prevent loss or damage to forest resources through fire.
Owners and managers should carry out a risk assessment on their properties, considering the presence of hazardous fuel vegetation on neighbouring lands, and whether there is a history of land burning in the vicinity, DAFM said.
Fire plans should be developed for all forests, and should include a map showing access routes and assembly points for firefighting personnel and equipment, and potential sources of water.
The plan should also include contact details for the emergency services, local private and Coillte foresters, neighbouring landowners and forest owners in order to summon help should theneed arise, the department said.
People are also being reminded that it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land notthen cultivated between March 1 and August 31 in any year.
