Multiple gorse fires stretch local fire service resources
WICKLOW FIRE Service had to respond to gorse fires in the Rocky Valley and Carrigoona areas over ten consecutive days last week, with the first blaze occurring on Sunday, May 13.
The County Chief Fire Officer, Aidan Dempsey, told this newspaper that at the height of the fires crews from four stations were needed to stop them spreading to houses in the area.
‘I believe the fires were started deliberately,’ said Mr Dempsey.
‘ There were multiple points of ignition each time,’ he added.
He also said the fires did not reignite and on each occasion new locations were affected.
‘ Those who started the fires put homes and property at risk and put the safety of fire-fighters at risk,’ said Mr Dempsey.
He also commented that while the crews were busy tending to the fires – which occurred near the Sugarloaf Mountain – they were not in a position to respond promptly to other emergencies in the vicinity of Bray and Greystones. He said that because the gorse fires meant crews were fighting blazes for 12 hours at a time it ‘potentially put other lives at risk’ elsewhere.
Mr Dempsey also highlighted the negative impact of the fires on the area: ‘ The damage to the environment is extensive; the nests of all birds in the areas were destroyed and many small mammals were killed.’
‘It will take years for the ecosystem to recover and the re- sultant large areas of scorched earth will negatively impact on tourism and visitor numbers to the wider Wicklow area.’
With regard to the cost of fighting the fires, he said that will come from the local authority budget. When asked if he thought the fires were started maliciously or were the inadvertent result of gorse being set alight he commented: ‘I couldn’t say they were started maliciously at this point.’
However, he added that gorse fires are an annual occurrence and said: ‘If in the future one of these fires overwhelms fire service resources, the effects could be catastrophic.’
Mr Dempsey said the matter has been handed over to the gardaí to investigate.
The residents in the Rocky Valley and Carrigoona areas expressed gratitude to the fire service personnel for saving their homes.
They wished to ‘sincerely thank all the members of the hard working fire service who saved many homes’.
‘ These brave men battled through the night to make sure no properties were lost,’ said the residents.
The community spirit of the areas concerned was evident in how the fire crews were treated to refreshments in Plucks bar in Kilmacanogue and a collection was made to cover dinner costs on Friday as a token of appreciation from the residents.