Wicklow People

MARY FOGARTY

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Smoke hangs over Kilmacanog­ue on Thursday as another fire burns in the distance at the Sally Gap.

a number of agencies who have eased the burden on firefighte­rs at critical times. In some cases, the fire service allowed sections to burn where there was no risk to property and instead worked more closely at roadsides and where there may have been risk to property.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government coordinate­s daily and processes requests for Air Corps assistance nationally. Air Corps crew were involved in a number of operations in Wicklow in the past week.

‘We are very grateful for the support of Air Corps helicopter­s at a number of incidents,’ said

Mr Dempsey.

‘Coordinati­ng our operations with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte has been very effective. The Coillte helicopter has proved invaluable in many areas,’ he said.

Gardai in Wicklow have increased their activities in areas of high fire risk and have closed roads where smoke made conditions too dangerous.

Civil Defence volunteers and Fire Service Officers are patrolling areas at risk, feeding back informatio­n and identifyin­g remote fires promptly. The Civil Defence deployed drones this weekend to provide an invaluable overview of difficult

locations.

As is always the case when emergency services may be stretched, the Defence Forces are available to respond if required.

Wicklow County Fire Service has also expressed its gratitude to the public for their support and offers of assistance.

People continue to be advised not to light fires, and to use barbecues in designated areas only while the current weather conditions remain in place.

‘I would like to thank the fire-fighters for their efforts during this period and I’m asking the public to be extra vigilant with all possible sources of ignition, e.g. discarded cigarette butts, disposable barbecues and to report any illegal or suspicious activity in relation to fires to An Garda Siochána,’ said Mr Dempsey.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service, the civil defence, and indeed members of the public remain on high alert to catch any incidents in time to extinguish fires before they can become more serious.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agricultur­e, Food and the Marine has extended its red forest fire warning until noon on Friday, July 6.

‘An extreme fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas

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 ??  ?? A Rathdrum fire crew fills up at the Clash River in Ballinacla­sh.
A Rathdrum fire crew fills up at the Clash River in Ballinacla­sh.

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