Emergency services attend bog fire near Strokestown

Several fire crew units attended “major bog fires” in north-east Co. Roscommon last night (Saturday, March 20).

Local senator Eugene Murphy posted on social media just after 11:00pm last night that the fire, which occurred between Strokestown and Tarmonbarry, was “well under control” with nobody injured. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The senator posted a video of the fires just after 8:30pm:

Major bog fires in North East Roscommon between Strokestown and Tarmonbarry. Several fire crew at the scene. pic.twitter.com/joQ55xzwvw
— Senator Eugene Murphy (@SenatorEMurphy) March 20, 2021

Department: 130ha of burnt lands now ineligible for BPS payments

Fires on rural lands – particularly in counties Kerry, Laois and Wicklow – have been noted since the closing date of March 1, by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which has warned that such lands are now no longer eligible for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments.

The department noted that it can identify burnt lands by means of satellite imagery.

It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from March 1 to August 31 in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated.

Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).