Fire crews busy with three days of forest fires
COILLTE has confirmed it is assessing the cause and extent of a series of fires which broke out on Shrule Hill over three consecutive days last week.
Two units of Gorey fire brigade were called to deal with a large forest fire at 6.45 p.m. on Monday. They were backed up by units from Carnew and Bunclody, with support from Coillte staff. They worked at the scene until 3.30 a.m.
While Gorey fire crews were at Shrule Hill, a 999 call was made, and Arklow fire brigade was sent to a large bonfire at The Park, Clonattin Village, Gorey, at 9.35 p.m. Additional support came from Enniscorthy, after the Enniscorthy crew responded to a gorse fire on waste ground on The Avenue, Gorey.
The following day, Tuesday, two units of Gorey fire brigade were called back to Shrule Hill at 3.30 p.m. They fought pockets of fire until 8 p.m. On their return to Gorey, they assisted Gorey gardaí and Wexford County Council staff to make safe a hydraulic oil spill which stretched from the bus stop outside Centra on Main Street up to the Monument. Traffic was diverted for a period.
At 4.30 p.m., on Wednesday, the emergency call came to return to Shrule Hill. They were backed up by a crew from Bunclody, and stayed on scene until 11.40 p.m.
Coillte confirmed that around two hectares of Shrule Forest was damaged over the three days. ‘Due to the tireless work of the fire crews and Coillte staff, the fire was limited to two hectares of this large commercial forest,’ said a spokesperson. ‘Coillte staff remain on site working to assess both the damage to the forest and the cause of the fire.’
Coillte reminded people that it is illegal to set fires in growing vegetation from March 1 to August 31 and appealed to everyone to be vigilant when they are out, near, or in forests.